,a ,,dissertation ,,on ,,the ,,true ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world1 ,,in ,,which ,,is ,,determined ,the ,chronology of the ,period ,,from ,,creation ,,to ,,the ,,christian ,,era4 ,,by ,,professor ,,wallace4 8,mundum tradidit disputationi eorum40 ,,eccles4 iii4 #aa4 ,lat4 ,vulg4 ,,london3 ,,smith1 ,,elder ,,and ,,co4 #fe1 ,,cornhill4 #ahdd4 ,london3 ,printed by ,,stewart and ,,murray1 ,old ,bailey4 ,,preface4 ,the following ,dissertation treats of a subject which has divided the opinions of the learned world from the third century till the present time2 namely1 the discrepancies which exist between the present ,hebrew text and the ,septuagint version of the ,old ,testament1 respecting the generations of the ,ante and ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs4 ,it treats also of the similar discrepancies1 which exist between the ,hebrew and the ,samaritan texts1 and of the testimonies of ,josephus and other ancient historians and chronographers1 in favour of the accuracy of the ,septuagint on this point4 ,these discrepancies1 with others of minor extent1 which are here also duly considered1 occasion a difference between the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint as to the chronology of the period from creation to the ,birth of ,christ1 amounting in all to nearly #aejj years1--the difference between the modern and ancient computation of the true age of the world4 ,this question1 which has never been satisfactorily settled1 notwithstanding the efforts of the ancient chronographers ,theophilus1 ,africanus1 ,eusebius and ,syncellus1 and the labours of the modern chronologers1 ,petavius1 ,usher1 ,jackson1 ,hales1 ,russell and ,clinton1 has acquired fresh importance from the late discoveries of ,astronomers and ,geologists1 and the recent investigations of learned writers on the prophecies and the millennium4 ,the startling announcements made by ,geologists regarding the antiquity of the earth1 which1 according to their discoveries1 amounts to millions of millions of years2 and the curious statements of ,astronomers respecting the ages of time required for the transmission of the light of the stars1 the continual development of new nebul in the heavens1 and the gradual formation of new suns and systems in the universe2 are sufficient causes1 why a new inquiry into the chronology of the ,bible has become both popular and necessary1 and why the question concerning the discrepancies between the ,hebrew text and the ancient ,greek version has been revived4 ,the interest attached in these latter days1 by pious and learned men1 to the study of the prophecies of ,daniel1 and of the ,apocalyptic visions of ,john1 tends greatly to increase the popularity of chronological inquiries respecting the ,mundane ,times4 ,the late researches of writers on this subject into the mystic numbers of days or years appointed by the ,great ,creator for the fulfilment of these prophecies and visions1 naturally leads to the investigation of the true age of the world2 and this again1 if properly conducted1 conduces to the settlement of the dates of all the great events both in sacred and profane history4 ,the ,christian ,church1 having once established these epochs on a firm chronological basis1 can then look calmly forward1 as from an elevated vantage ground1 to the rapid accomplishment of all the prophecies both of the ,old and ,new ,testament2 and particularly to the downfall of the ,papacy1 the destruction of the ,mohammedan ,imposture1 the overthrow of ,infidelity1 the return of the ,jews to the ,holy ,land1 the battle of ,armageddon1 the supervention of the ,millennium1 and the ,second ,advent of the ,messiah in the clouds of ,heaven4 ,it is no mean and uninteresting inquiry1 therefore1 to attempt to ascertain from the ,sacred ,scriptures1 the true date of the present year from the creation of the world2 and to determine which of the modern computations is the most correct1 or whether any of them be in exact accordance with the unerring testimony of the word of ,god4 ,for1 according to the chronology of the modern ,jews1 we now live in the year of the world #efjd2 according to that of the ,church of ,england1 founded on the authority of ,archbishop ,usher's interpretation of the ,hebrew text1 in ,a4,m4 #ehdh2 according to that of the ,church of ,rome1 founded on the authority of ,eusebius1 and the later chronographers1 in ,a4,m4 #gjdd2 but1 according to that of the most learned of all ,christian churches1 and particularly the recent writers1 ,jackson1 ,hales1 ,russell and ,cuninghame1 founded on the authority of the ,septuagint1 corrected according to the best and most ancient codices of that version1 and tested by ,astronomical and ,jubilean ,cycles of time1 in ,a4,m4 #gcbb4 ,in the ,first ,part of this ,dissertation1 a critical analysis is given of the construction of the different ,ages of the world previous to the ,messianic age1 as determined by the supreme authority of the ,sacred ,scriptures1 which the author places above and beyond that of the statements and the testimonies of all human writers4 ,the learned chronological works of ,mr4 ,cuninghame have been particularly brought under his review1 and have1 in fact1 formed the basis of his investigations2 namely1 ,a ,synopsis of ,chronology1 ,london1 #ahcg2 ,the ,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies ,tried1 ,london1 #ahch2 ,the ,fulness of the ,times1 second edition1 ,london1 #ahci2 ,a ,chart of ,sacred ,chronology1 ,london1 #ahdb1 c4 ,the following important chronological treatises have also been specially brought under his notice2 namely1 ,scripture ,chronology1 being ,appendix ,v4 to ,vol4 i4 of ,mr4 ,clinton's very learned work1 the ,fasti ,hellenici1 ,oxford1 #ahcd2 and ,chronographi ,,lxx4 ,interpretum ,defensio1 being ,treatise ,v4 in ,vol4 iii4 of the ,cours ,complets ,d',ecriture ,sainte et ,de ,theologie1 a laborious1 learned and valuable work in #ej volumes1 published by ,m4 ,l',abb ,migne1 ,paris1 #ahda4 ,frequent references are likewise made to the well-known chronological works of ,usher1 ,jackson1 ,hales1 and ,russell4 ,in the ,second ,part1 a critical inquiry has been instituted into the evidence1 ,scriptural1 ,historical and ,physical1 for the universal diffusion among mankind of the ,great ,primeval prophecy concerning the ,renovation of the world1 and its bearing on the question of the true period of the ,advent of our ,saviour1 and the ,extent of the ,mundane ages4 ,this inquiry leads to a short discussion on the origin of ,idolatry1 the ,source of the ,heathen names of the ,deity1 and the notions entertained by the ancient mythologists and poets concerning the ,seven ages of the world4 ,this discussion brings to light some evidences of a curious and striking nature in favour of the true ,chronology4 ,the work concludes with an investigation of the errors of the most eminent of the ancient ,chronographers1 and an elucidation of their clear and united testimony to the authenticity of the computation of the ,septuagint4 ,to complete the object of this ,dissertation1 the author intended to review the ,astronomical and ,geological evidence for the antiquity of the globe2 but the ,scriptural and ,historical evidence for the true age of the world1 appeared to him of such paramount importance1 and of so overwhelming a nature1 that he was compelled to devote his best attention to its development and elucidation4 ,if he has been successful in this attempt1 it will be to him a source of no small gratification1 and no small reward for his labour2 it will also be a powerful inducement to prosecute his intended investigations1 having1 in this work1 only very slightly touched on the ,geological question1 and not at all on the ,astronomical1 except in what relates to the cyclical character of the ,mundane ,times1 which may be considered as only the germ of this magnificent subject4 ,impressed with the idea that the ,true ,age of the ,world is written in the ,heavens by the finger of ,god1 and that the revolutions of the ,solar ,system1 if rightly investigated1 must lead to its discovery2 the author made some astronomical calculations of which at present1 he can only communicate the results4 ,assuming that at the ,creation of the world1 there was a ,grand ,heliocentric conjunction of all the ,planets1 and that at some subsequent period of its history1 the same phenomenon would at least be partially visible from its surface1 he endeavoured to determine the period or cycle which must elapse before a second conjunction would happen4 ,he found by these calculations1 that this cycle was nearly #bdja years1 a period which according to the language of ,scripture is a ,jubilee of ,jubilees2 and1 that reckoning from the era of ,creation determined in this work1 the ,second conjunction took place about ,b4 ,c4 #cjgh1 which is within a few years 7#bd7 of the date generally assigned to the ,hindoo epoch of the ,calyougham4 ,he found also1 that the ,third conjunction took place about ,b4 ,c4 #fgg1 when the remnant of the ,ten ,tribes was carried away into a long captivity1 and the kingdom departed from ,israel2 and1 that the ,fourth conjunction took place in ,a4,d4 #agbe1 when on the #agth of ,march1 at ,pekin in ,china1 the planets ,mercury1 ,venus1 ,mars and ,jupiter1 were all seen in the field of the same telescope at the same instant1 by the ,jesuit ,missionaries ,gaubil1 ,jacques and ,kegler4 ,in confirmation of the same epoch of ,creation1 he also found that the longitude of ,sirius1 the largest and brightest of all the ,stars in the ,heavens1 and by some supposed to be the central point of attraction to our ,sun1 was #j #j #j on the #bast of ,march ,b4 ,c4 #edgh1 according to the most recent determination of the precession of the equinoxes2 but the discussion of these curious results and other topics to which he has already alluded1 must form the subject of a future volume4 ,london1 ,sept4 #bnd1 #ahdd4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents4 ,,part ,i4 ,,introduction4 #a4 ,state of the ,world at the ,birth of ,christ--,tradition concerning his ,advent--,its epoch determined from ,prophecy page #a #b4 ,short history of the ,septuagint ,version of the ,old ,testament--,discrepancies between the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint--,their effect on ,sacred ,chronology #d ,,section ,i4--,,ages ,,and ,,epochs ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,chapter ,i4--,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #a4 ,discrepancies of the ,hebrew1 ,septuagint1 and ,samaritan ,texts--,solution of the difficulty by the chronographers of the middle ages--,consistency of the ,septuagint and the ,new ,testament--,numerical errors of the ,hebrew text #i #b4 ,origin and effect of various readings--,the immaculate purity and miraculous preservation of the ,hebrew text1 a figment--,consistency of the word of ,god #ab #c4 ,tables of the ,discrepancies of the three texts with regard to the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs3 ,table ,i41 ,in their ,antepaidogonian ages--,table ,,ii41 ,in their ,postpaidogonian ages--,table ,,iii41 ,in their whole lives--,internal evidence afforded by the ,tables in favour of the computation of the ,septuagint--,the ,discrepancies of the ,hebrew and ,samaritan the work of design--,proof of this fact from the ,scriptures #ad #d4 ,reasons assigned for the alterations in the ,hebrew and ,samaritan--,accuracy of the ,septuagint demonstrated--,an objection to its chronology removed--,utility of the publication of fac simile editions of the codices--,late origin of the printed ,hebrew text--,its original agreement with the ,septuagint proved #bj ,,chapter ,,ii4--,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,second ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #a4 ,discrepancies of the three texts--,unfounded hypothesis of ,usher--,agreement of ,josephus with the ,septuagint--,authority of this ,version in the ,church--,its chronology confirmed by the most authentic ,chinese annals--,reasons why the ,jews altered the ,hebrew text #bh #b4 ,tables of the ,discrepancies of the three texts with regard to the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs3 ,table ,,iv4 ,in their ,antepaidogonian ages--,table ,v4 ,in their ,postpaidogonian ages--,table ,,vi4 ,in their whole lives #ca #c4 ,authenticity of the ,second ,cainan--,dilemma of the ,venerable ,bede--,mistake of ,mr4 ,clinton and ,mr4 ,horne--,usher's ,dissertation--,inconsistency of authorized translations of the ,bible--,rashness of ,beza--,the ,second ,cainan in the most ancient ,codices--,mistake of ,bede1 ,hales1 and other chronographers #cd #d4 ,internal evidence afforded by the ,tables in favour of the computation of the ,septuagint--,omissions in the ,hebrew and ,septuagint retained in the ,samaritan--,accordance of the ,septuagint with nature and providence--,mr4 ,cuninghame's argument from analogy--,the alterations of ,origen in the text of the ,septuagint #da #e4 ,mistake of ,usher1 adopted by ,hales and ,clinton1 as to the ,antepaidogonian age of ,terah--,mr4 ,cuninghame's arguments unanswerable--,his proof of the chronology of the ,seventy from the discovery of its ,cyclical character--,testimony of ,eusebius to the true date of ,abraham's birth--,table ,,vii4 ,extent of the first two ages of the world #de ,,chapter ,,iii4--,,difference ,,between ,,the ,,hebrew ,,and ,,septuagint ,,chronologies4 #a4 ,argument against the shorter computation1 founded on the proportion between the ,antepaidogonian ,ages and whole ,lives of the ,patriarchs--,reasons for the enlargement of this ratio1 and the diminution of the length of human life #ej #b4 ,argument founded on the regular succession of human generations--,anomalies and ,paradoxes of the ,hebrew text--,remark of ,eusebius--,objections of learned men unanswered #eb #c4 ,argument founded on the inconsistency of the co-existence of idolatry and the worship of the true ,god1 in the same family1 and within a short period from the flood--,remarks on the building of ,babel--,mr4 ,clinton refuted--,mr4 ,cuninghame's argument from ,scripture--,the judgments of ,god forgotten #ee #d4 ,argument founded on the inconsistency of the accounts of ,sacred and ,profane ,history--,remark of ,sir ,walter ,raleigh--,sir ,isaac ,newton's objection refuted--,epoch of the ,foundation of the kingdom of ,egypt #eg #e4 ,arguments founded on the deficiency of the numbers of mankind--,epoch of the occupation of ,babylon by the ,medes--,calculation of the numbers of mankind on the ,eulerian ratio--,mr4 ,clinton refuted #ei #f4 ,argument founded on the alteration of the ,hebrew text by the ,jews--,testimony of the early ,fathers on this point--,mr4 ,clinton's admission as to the prophecies--,his refutation as to the chronology--,motives of the ,jews for shortening the genealogies #fj #g4 ,motives ascribed to the ,seventy ,interpreters for enlarging the chronology--,pretensions of the ,chaldeans and ,egyptians to a remote antiquity--,insufficiency of the scheme adopted by the ,interpreters--,self-refutation of ,mr4 ,clinton's hypothesis #fb ,,chapter ,,iv4--,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,third ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,table ,,viii4 ,patriarchal ,eras and ,intervals from ,usher--,table ,,ix4 ,extent of the first three ages of the ,world--,date of the ,exodus of ,israel from ,egypt #fd ,,chapter ,v4--,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,fourth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,palpable ,forgery of this period in #a ,kings vi4 #a4--,table ,x4 ,critarchal ,eras and ,intervals1 from ,usher and ,cuninghame--,object of ,usher in determining this period--,testimony of ,paul and the ,book of ,judges as to its true extent--,testimony of ,origen--,table ,,xi4 ,extent of the first four ages of the world--,verification of the true extent of the fourth age by ,chronographers--,agreement on this point between ,mr4 ,clinton and ,mr4 ,cuninghame #fg ,,chapter ,,vi4--,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,fifth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,table ,,xii4 ,monarchal ,eras and ,intervals1 from ,usher and ,cuninghame--,correction of the mistakes of chronologers as to the true extent of this period1 by ,mr4 ,cuninghame--,table ,,xiii4 ,extent of the first five ages of the ,world--,confirmation of the true extent of the fifth age from sacred history and prophecy #gc ,,chapter ,,vii4--,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,sixth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #a4 ,table ,,xiv4 ,hierarchal ,eras and ,intervals1 from ,usher and ,cuninghame--,determination of the ,intervals from ,scripture--,period of the ,seventy years ,captivity--,period of the ,seventy prophetic weeks of ,daniel--,table ,,xv4 ,date of the ,crucifixion determined--,truth of the ,ancient ,tradition respecting the ,first ,advent of the ,messiah demonstrated #gi #b4 ,determination of the ,epoch of the ,birth of ,christ--,labours of ,mr4 ,cuninghame on this point--,coincidence of the extent of the period of ,patriarchal ,pilgrimage with that of ,hierarchal ,bondage--,table ,,xvi4 ,extent of the ,six ,ages of the ,world--,difference between the true and vulgar dates of the ,nativity--,mr4 ,cuninghame's dates of the ,nativity and ,public ,ministry of ,christ deduced from the chronology of the ,septuagint #hd ,,section ,,ii4--,,confirmation ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,epochs ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,chapter ,i4--,,historical ,,confirmation ,,of ,,the ,,true ,,system ,,of ,,chronology4 ,testimonies of the ancient chronographers and historians before and after ,christ1 in favour of the chronology of the ,septuagint--,demetrius1 ,eupolemus1 ,josephus1 ,justin ,martyr1 and all the early fathers of the first three centuries--,theophilus1 ,hippolytus1 ,africanus1 ,origen1 ,cyprian1 ,lactantius1 ,epiphanius1 ,ambrose1 ,ephrem ,syrus1 ,augustine1 ,chrysostom1 ,sulpicius ,severus1 ,annianus1 ,syncellus1 ,eutychius1 the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle1 and the ,council called 8,synodus in ,trullo0--,probable cause of minute variations among the ancient chronographers #ij ,,chapter ,,ii4--,,reduction ,,of ,,the ,,mundane ,,era ,,of ,,redemption4 ,errors of ,eusebius1 ,jerome1 and the western churches--,consistency of the eastern and southern churches to the latest period--,chronology of the ,russians and ,armenians1 that of the ,septuagint--,testimony of ,abulpharajius--,chronological innovations of the ,venerable ,bede--,his denouncement as a heretic on this account--,chronology of the ,roman ,church different from that of the ,latin ,vulgate--,the chronology of the ,masoretes an abridgement of the true--,the chronology of the ,roman ,martyrology preserved by ,pontifical authority to the present day--,extract from ,strauchius--,an important testimony in favour of the true chronology #ie ,,chapter ,,iii4--,,christian ,,and ,,jewish ,,systems ,,of ,,chronology ,,erroneous4 ,chronology of the ,english ,bible erroneous--,usher influenced by the ,masoretes--,tradition of the ,house of ,elias--,its complete refutation both from ,scripture and fact--,utility and application of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,chart of ,chronology0--,reasons assigned by the ,jewish ,rabbis why their expected ,messiah is not yet come--,their curse upon all who calculate the ,times #ii ,,chapter ,,iv4--,,cyclical ,,character ,,of ,,the ,,mundane ,,times4 #a4 ,the revolutions of the heavenly bodies appointed for cycles--,origin of the cycles of the year and the month--,the subject of ,enoch's prophecy--,mr4 ,cuninghame's discovery of the cycle from the ,creation to the ,era of ,redemption--,scriptural cycles of frequent occurrence--,the numbers of ,jubilee and of ,pentecost--of pilgrimage and persecution--of omnipotence1 glory and wisdom2 and of mystery1 vengeance and forgiveness--,the prophetic numbers of ,daniel--,discovery of their connection with the higher cycles of astronomy1 by ,m4 de ,chesaux and ,mr4 ,cuninghame #ajb #b4 ,lengths of the tropical year and the synodical period of the moon1 according to ,sir ,john ,herschel--,application of the method of continued fractions to the determination of their approximating ratios--,various lunisolar cycles--,the ,octateris of the ,greeks--,the cycle of nineteen discovered by ,meton1 but probably known to the ,hebrews--,the period of ,calippus--,proof that the numbers of ,daniel are lunisolar cycles--,remarks of ,mr4 ,birks in his 8,elements of ,prophecy0--,observations of ,mr4 ,cuninghame in his 8,scientific ,chronology0--,proof that the prophetic month and the jubilean period are lunisolar cycles #ajf ,,chapter ,v4--,,discovery ,,of ,,new ,,mundane ,,cycles4 #a4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame's discovery of the mystical signification of the seventy years' captivity--,its connection with the era of the ,french ,revolution--,confirmed by the sentiments of the modern ,jews--,prediction of ,rabbi ,joseph ,crool--,prediction in the ,hebrew ,tract 8,explanation of the ,times10 published in #agid--,the latter prediction not fulfilled--,hope concerning ,israel #aaa #b4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame's discovery of seven streams of time1 of seventy jubilees each1 in the true system of chronology--,this test wholly inapplicable to any other system--,his discovery of five streams of time of different ,jubilean periods--,utility of his 8,fulness of the ,times0 where these discoveries are developed--,notice of his more recent works #aac #c4 ,various cycles which enter into the true system of chronology--,mr4 ,cuninghame's discovery of the trinal fraction--,its explanation and application by an ,algebraic formula--,original form in which it was discovered--,its superiority to the formul of the figurate numbers--,remarkable instance of its application to ,scriptural and other numbers1 and to lunar and solar cyclical numbers--,mr4 ,cuninghame's definition of the trinal fraction the most correct--,the series deduced from its formula possesses curious properties #aae #d4 ,application of the theory of the trinal fraction to the discovery of the meaning of the ,number of the ,beast in the ,revelation of ,john--,proof that the number #fff is the number of a ,man--,its indication of spiritual and secular dominion--of tyranny and persecution--,recent efforts to raise the ,beast again to power--,a warning to ,protestants #aai ,,chapter ,,vi4--,,demonstrations ,,of ,,the ,,septuagint ,,chronology4 #a4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame's application of the lunisolar cycles and septennary periods to the settlement of chronological questions--,the ,septuagint proved to be the exact truth by a complex harmony of scientific time--,his 8,synopsis of ,chronology0 recommended #abb #b4 ,evidence in favour of the ,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies compared and tested by ,mr4 ,cuninghame--,his detection of the scheme of fraud invented by the ,jewish ,rabbis for shortening the chronology of the ,scriptures--,his exposition of this scheme in three distinct acts1 and the result of the whole #abc #c4 ,recommendation of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies ,tried0--,his description and table of the great periods of #ahch--;,his table of both ,chronologies--,his appeal to the disciples of ,usher--,his view of their chronological difficulties and paradoxes--,his call to them to produce their evidence in favour of their system #abf #d4 ,recommendation of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's later works--,summary of the remarkable and original subjects of which they treat--,his remarks on the ,theories of modern ,geologists recommended--,their large demands upon time not warranted by the simplicity of the ,mosaic narrative--,the authority and authenticity of the ,inspired ,record endangered by their speculations--,another mode of solving geological difficulties recommended--,a boon of #aejj years additional granted to ,geologists--,recommendation of ,mr4 ,morison's 8,religious ,history of ,man0--,mr4 ,cuninghame's discoveries concentrated in his 8,chart of ,chronology0 and 8,essay10 and in the ,appendixes to the fourth edition of his 8,dissertation on the ,apocalypse0 #abh ,,part ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,i4--,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,jesus ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,prophecy4 ,primeval prophecy concerning the ,messiah--,errors in the translation of it1 in different versions--,correct in the ,septuagint--,tradition of this prophecy in the ,ante and ,post ,diluvian ages--,its clearer development in the ,patriarchal ,age--,dr4 ,lamb's explanation of the word ,shiloh--,prophecy of ,balaam in the ,critarchal ,age--,predictions of ,moses and ,hannah--,the glorious revelations of the ,monarchal ,age--,the testimony of the ,psalms to the ,messiah--,explanation of the last words of ,david from ,kennicott--,application of the term ,sun to ,jehovah--,testimony of the ,prophecies to the ,messiah--,isaiah1 the ,evangelical ,prophet--,the predictions at the close of the ,monarchal and the commencement of the ,hierarchal ,age--,testimony among the ,heathen #ace ,,chapter ,,ii4--,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,heavens ,,and ,,the ,,earth ,,to ,,the ,,subject ,,of ,,prophecy4 #a4 ,object of the ,disposition of the ,cherubim at ,eden--,its disappearance from the earth--,the remembrance of its glory transmitted to the ,postdiluvians--,its occasional re-appearance to ,abraham1 to ,moses1 to ,israel1 to ,elijah1 and to ,isaiah--,identity of the visions of ,isaiah1 ,ezekiel1 and ,john--,similarity of the visions of ,daniel1 ,john1 the ,three ,disciples1 and ,paul--,object of these glorious representations in heaven and on earth--,known among the ,heathen1 and grafted on their religious worship--,origin of ,zabaism1 and its spread over the world #adf #b4 ,the ,sun worshipped by the ,babylonians1 ,assyrians1 and ,chaldeans1 under the names of ,baal1 or ,beelsamen--,by the ,egyptians1 under the names of ,orus and ,osiris--,connection between the ,sun and ,sirius--,the ,sun and his ,satellite worshipped by the ,israelites1 under the names of ,molech and ,remphan1 ,baal1 and ,ashtaroth1 during the ,critarchal age--,the ,zabian idolatry set up at ,jerusalem in the ,monarchal age--,the partial ,reformation of ,josiah--,the ancient ,persians1 ,sun and ,fire worshippers--,origin of ,mithras--,the gods of ,phenicia1 ,elioun1 and ,adonis or ,tammuz #aeb #c4 ,the gods of the ,hindoos1 ,vishnu1 ,buddha1 ,brahma1 and ,seeva1 form no ,trinity--,the theft of their names and attributes from the ,hebrew evinced by their meaning--,buddha an avatar of ,vishnu--,origin of ,fohi1 the god of the ,chinese--,druidical1 ,peruvian1 ,mexican1 and ,parsee worship--,origin of ,surya1 ,suras1 and ,asuras--,russell's citation of ,macrobius on the worship of the ,solar god--,the concentration of ,paganism #aeh #d4 ,origin of the ,greek and ,latin names of the ,supreme ,god--,ingenious derivation by ,dr4 ,hales--,confutation of that given by ,francoeur in his 8,uranographie0--,origin of the ,new ,testament titles of ,christ--,citation of ,theophilus on this subject--,irrefragable proof of the ,divinity of our ,lord--,original temple of the ,sun--,connection of ,religious worship and ,astronomical observation--,antiquity of the ,hindoos and ,chinese #afc ,,chapter ,,iii4--,,traditionary ,,and ,,poetical ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #a4 ,tradition concerning the ,seventh ,age--,prophecy of the ,universal ,saviour--,traditions of the ,jews--,opinion of ,irenus and the ,christian ,church in his time--,dr4 ,russell's opinion confuted--,testimony of the ,heathen to the ,tradition of the ,seven ,ages--,digression on the ,corruptions of the ,septuagint and the ,hebrew text--,arguments against the numerical accuracy of the latter--,remarkable prophecy contained in the names of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs--,opinions of ,augustine and ,abulfarajius--,notion of ,dr4 ,isaac ,barrow--,important admission of ,eusebius--,opinion of ,ephrem ,syrus #afh #b4 ,description of the ,ages of the ,world from ,hesiod--,error of ,newton--,the ,golden ,age corresponds to the ,antediluvian--,the ,silver to the ,postdiluvian--,the ,brazen1 ,heroic and ,iron ages1 to the ,patriarchal1 ,critarchal and ,monarchal--,these ages relate chiefly to ,greece--,references to ,scripture history in all--,the ,sixth or ,cuman age corresponds to the ,hierarchal--,wisdom of the ,heathens--,their expectation of a ,divine ,instructor--,socrates1 ,plato1 ,eupolis1 ,virgil1 and others1 anticipate his glorious ,advent--,the close of the ,sixth age indicates the arrival of the ,seventh1 or the return of the ,golden age #aic ,,chapter ,,iv4--,,errors ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,chronographers4 #a4 ,authority of the ,scripture texts superior to that of the ancient chronographers--,the testimony of the latter chiefly in favour of the ,septuagint--,the testimonies of ,josephus1 ,theophilus1 ,africanus1 ,eusebius1 and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle selected for examination--,table ,i4 ,containing their statements relating to the ,first age of the world--,errors of ,josephus--,corruption of his text--,mr4 ,cuninghame's detection of his blunders in regard to the first age--,his discovery of the truth from the titulary statements of the first and second books of ,josephus--,his explanation of the ,jewish fraud to which this author appears to have been accessory--,error of ,theophilus1 and accuracy of ,africanus in this age--,similar error of ,eusebius and ,syncellus1 and accuracy of ,epiphanius and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle #bbi #b4 ,table ,,ii41 ,containing the statements of the ancient chronographers relating to the ,second age of the world--,absurd errors of the text of ,josephus--,the discrepancy between his detailed numbers and his sum total1 the work of an enemy to the truth--,proof that the true sum was in his text originally--,errors of ,theophilus and ,africanus in this age due to ,jewish influence--,notion entertained by the ancient chronographers regarding the bisection of the ,mundane period at the death of ,peleg--,the genealogy of ,shem1 like that of ,melchisedec1 in the chronology--,reference to ,mr4 ,clinton--,error of ,eusebius1 rectified in the ,hieronymian version of his ,chronicon--,accuracy of the ,paschal ,chronicle1 with the exception of the biennial period--,valuable ,testimony of ,eusebius and ,africanus1 preserved by ,syncellus in his ,chronographia1 on the extent of the first two ages #bdj #c4 ,table ,,iii41 ,containing the statements of the ancient chronographers relating to the ,third age of the world--,the testimony of ,josephus to the true chronology very explicit--,misinterpretation of prophecy the cause of wavering in ,josephus and blunder in ,theophilus--,the testimony of ,africanus correct--,eusebius1 ,demetrius1 and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle correct--,explanation of the period of ,four ,hundred years #bdh #d4 ,table ,,iv41 ,containing the statements of the ancient chronographers relating to the ,fourth age of the world--,the testimony of ,josephus to the extent of this age highly satisfactory--,proof that it was #fab years--,strange errors of ,theophilus--,method of rectifying them--,compensating errors of ,africanus--,his date of the foundation of ,solomon's ,temple correct--,errors of ,eusebius--,his ,prparatio correct in amount1 his ,chronicon wrong--,he confutes himself and adopts the ,hebrew chronology--,comparison between him and ,usher--,errors of the ,paschal ,chronicle--,the author coincides with ,josephus--,hesitancy of ,mr4 ,clinton--,table ,v41 ,the first four ages of the world1 and date of ,solomon's ,temple according to the different chronographers #bed #e4 ,table ,,vi4 ,containing the statements of the chronographers relating to the ,fifth age of the world--,the errors of ,josephus peculiar--,his elongation of the reign of ,solomon--,disagreement of his titulary periods with the summation of the reigns in ,books ,eighth1 ,ninth and ,tenth--,proof that the former is nearly correct--,table ,,vii4 ,monarchal ,periods of ,josephus--,comparison with the ,true ,chronology--,evidence that these periods have been manufactured--,the true chronology of this age detected in his works--,table ,,viii4 ,true ,flavian ,periods1 showing the true ,extent as originally held by ,josephus--,proof that he knew the true epoch of the ,captivity--,the errors of ,theophilus in this age few--,he is also mistaken as to the epoch of the ,captivity--,africanus diminishes the true extent of this age--,he is misrepresented by ,syncellus--,the ,statements of ,eusebius taken from the ,hieronymian and ,armenian ,versions of his ,canon--,those of the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle from that work itself--,their errors pointed out--,the difference between their ,extent of this age and the true ,extent only #c years #bgd #f4 ,table ,,ix4 ,ethnocratic ,eras and ,intervals according to ,ptolemy's ,canon and the ancient ,chronographers--,accuracy of the ,canon--,josephus erroneous but consistent in the ,sixth age--,his remarkable coincidence with the true ,chronology in the ,mundane period--,theophilus follows the ,roman ,chronology in this age--,africanus the prophetic--,both erroneous--,errors of ,eusebius1 and accuracy of his ,extent of this age--,errors of the ,paschal ,chronicle considerable and unaccountable--,table ,x4 ,summation of the ,six ages of the world according to the ,septuagint and the ancient chronographers--,table ,,xi4 ,summation of the ,periods of the ,christian ,chronographers1 adopted by themselves--,chronological ,table of the ,principal ,epochs and ,events from the ,creation to the ,advent of ,christ #bhg ,a ,,dissertation ,,on ,,the ,,true ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,part ,i4 ,,introduction4 #a4 ,state of the ,world at the ,birth of ,christ--,tradition concerning his ,advent--,its epoch determined from ,prophecy4 ,the ,christian era was ushered into notice1 by a state of peace among all nations1 unprecedented in the history of the world4 ,the temple of ,janus at ,rome was shut1 after the lapse of seven centuries of incessant warfare4 ,at this period1 a very general belief prevailed among men1 that the long-expected ,saviour of the world was about to appear4 ,many incontestable proofs of this fact are to be found in ancient history4 ,soter or ,saviour1 had indeed become a common appellation among kings1 both in ,syria and ,egypt2 and the foreshortened shadows of coming events indicated the near approach of the 8,desire of all nations40 ,poets anticipated his happy reign2 historians longed for the promised age of miracles2 and philosophers panted for the ,advent of a heaven-born ,instructor of mankind4 ,the epoch assigned1 by universal tradition1 for the epiphany of this wonderful personage1 was the ,sixth ,age of the world2 or1 according to the ancient ,hebrew chronology1 the middle of the ,sixth ,millennium or ,chiliad1 of years from the creation of the world4 ,respecting the true origin of the assigned epoch1 a considerable difference of opinion exists4 ,it is1 however1 generally referred to the ancient tradition among the ,jews1 that the world was destined to last for a period of seven millenaries of years1 the first six corresponding to the six days of creation1 and the seventh to the ,sabbath or day of rest2 and that previous to the last millennium1 the ,messiah should appear in great power and glory4 ,traces of this tradition may be found in the vaticinations of the ,sybilline oracles1 and in the writings of the ,greek theogonists and cosmogonists4 ,the prevalence of the same tradition in the time of our ,saviour and his ,apostles1 had evidently led the disciples to associate1 as contemporaneous events1 the first ,advent of ,christ1 and the restoration of all things4 ,see ,matthew xxxiv4 #b1 and #b ,thessalonians ii4 #a4 ,although there be no foundation in ,scripture for the ,jewish tradition itself1 yet the fact of its existence at an early period of the ,christian era1 added to the universal belief among ancient writers1 that the ,messiah did appear at the assigned epoch1 affords a strong presumptive proof that it was the true one4 ,theophilus1 bishop of ,antioch1 who flourished in the second century1 ingeniously unites the historical fact and the ,jewish tradition1 when he intimates that as the first ,adam came into existence on the sixth day of creation1 so the second ,adam came into the world on the sixth day of the ,chiliads1 each day being reckoned as 8a thousand years40 ,it is evident1 however1 that this early father had derived his knowledge of the true epoch from its original and only source2 for1 he says1 8the whole time1 even all the years0 from the ,creation to the ,crucifixion1 8are shown0 in the ,scriptures1 8to those who are willing to obey the truth40#a ,accordingly1 we assert that it was possible to ascertain at a very early period1--almost five centuries before ,christ1--the true length of the whole interval in question1 by a careful examination of the ,sacred ,records2 the exact period from the rebuilding of ,jerusalem to the ,crucifixion1 being assigned in the prophecies of ,daniel2 while1 the period from ,creation to the ,return of the ,jews from ,babylon1 can be determined from the other books of the ,old ,testament4 ,before we proceed to demonstrate the truth of this assertion1 we must shortly glance at the history of these ,books4 #b4 ,short history of the ,septuagint ,version of the ,old ,testament--,discrepancies between the ,hebrew and ,septuagint--,their effect on ,sacred ,chronology4 ,it is universally admitted that the ,pentateuch was translated into ,greek about three centuries before ,christ1 for the use of the dispersed tribes of ,israel1 and particularly of the ,jews1 who had settled in ,alexandria1 and other parts of the ,grecian ,empire4 ,although the history of this translation given by ,aristeas1 ,josephus1 and others1 savours too much of the marvellous for modern belief1 yet all antiquity agrees that it was executed in the reign of ,ptolemy ,philadelphus1 and1 according to some1 at his request1 by seventy-two interpreters selected from the most learned and eminent men among the ,jews by the ,high ,priest and ,sanhedrim at ,jerusalem4 ,it is moreover asserted1 that the other books of the ,old ,testament were translated about a century later than the ,pentateuch2 and this assertion is in some measure proved by a considerable diversity of style and sentiment4 ,it is quite certain1 however1 that the ,greek version of the whole of the ,hebrew ,scriptures1 now called the ,septuagint1 was in public use at least a century before the ,christian era2 and that the ,evangelists and ,apostles made citations from this version in the ,new ,testament1 in preference to the original text4 ,such being the origin and authority of this ancient and venerable version1 its value cannot be too much appreciated2 for1 without it1 the ,christians would have been entirely at the mercy of the ,jews1 as to the authenticity1 the integrity1 and the meaning of the ,holy ,scriptures2 first1 of the ,old ,testament1 on account of their ignorance of the ,hebrew1 and the danger of the glosses and traditions of their opponents2 and second1 of the ,new ,testament1 on account of its being the complete elucidation and fulfilment of the ,old4 ,besides1 although the ,jews were for ages the appointed custodiers of the ,hebrew text1 and are generally considered to have been faithful to their trust2 yet we must not conceal the fact that it now differs considerably from the ,septuagint in many important places1 particularly in the prophecies relating to the ,messiah2 and1 that its chronology of the whole period from the creation to the first advent1 is completely at variance with that of the ,greek version4 ,the chronological discrepancies between the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint1 which amount in all to nearly fifteen centuries of difference in regard to the true age of the world1 have occasioned disputes among the learned ever since the third century4 ,the ,christian ,church1 however1 has always followed the longer computation of the ,seventy1 from the earliest period of its history till the era of the ,reformation2 while the ,jewish ,church has retained the shorter chronology of the ,hebrew text from the second century till the present day4 ,archbishop ,usher1 the great modern authority in chronology1 endeavoured to fix and determine the true epoch of the birth of ,christ from that text alone4 ,dr4 ,hales1 a later and more accurate authority1 made a similar attempt1 founding his computation on the ,septuagint4 ,as this subject has been lately revived by writers of considerable eminence on both sides1 we shall endeavour to place the whole ,scriptural evidence before our readers1 in the following critical analysis of the question4 ,,section ,i4 ,,ages ,,and ,,epochs ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,the whole period from the ,creation to the birth of ,christ1 whatever may be considered as its real extent1 is generally divided by chronologers into six subordinate periods1 called ,ages4 ,the first1 which is reckoned from the ,creation to the ,deluge1 is called the ,antediluvian age2 the second1 from the ,deluge to the ,call of ,abraham1 the ,postdiluvian age2 the third1 from the ,call of ,abraham to the ,exode of the ,israelites from ,egypt1 the ,patriarchal age2 the fourth1 from the ,exode of the ,israelites to the foundation of ,solomon's ,temple1 the ,critarchal 7or1 judge-ruling7 age2 the fifth1 from the foundation to the destruction of ,solomon's ,temple1 the ,monarchal age2 the sixth1 from the destruction of ,solomon's ,temple to the birth of ,christ1 the ,hierarchal age4 ,we have1 for the sake of distinctness and brevity1 given to the last four ages1 names derived from the four different states of the ,hebrew ,polity1 namely1 the governments of the ,patriarchs1 the ,judges1 the ,kings1 and the ,high ,priests2 the government of the latter terminating in ,judea becoming a ,roman province4 ,besides the great epochs which limit the six ages of the world1 there are many intermediate eras of very considerable importance in the settlement of disputes both in chronology and history1 sacred as well as profane4 ,thus3 in the first age1 we have1 the fall of ,adam1 the births and deaths of the ,patriarchs1 and the translation of ,enoch2 in the second1 the confusion of tongues1 the foundation of ,babel and ,nineveh1 and the eras of the ,calyougham of the ,hindoos1 and the ,chinese emperor ,yao2 in the third1 the destruction of ,sodom1 the migration of the ,hebrew ,patriarchs into ,egypt1 and the foundation of the ,greek kingdoms of ,sicyon and ,argos2 in the fourth1 the servitudes of the ,israelites in ,canaan1 the foundation of ,athens and ,jerusalem1 and the destruction of ,troy2 in the fifth1 the eras of the ,olympiads and ,nabonassar1 the foundation of ,rome1 and the captivities of ,israel and ,judah2 in the sixth1 the return of the ,jews from captivity1 the destruction of ,babylon1 the death of ,alexander the ,great1 and the eras of the ,seleucid and the ,csars4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #a4 ,discrepancies of the ,hebrew1 ,septuagint and ,samaritan ,texts--,solution of the difficulty by the chronographers of the middle ages--,consistency of the ,septuagint and the ,new ,testament--,numerical errors of the ,hebrew text4 ,the extent of the first1 or ,antediluvian age1 is ascertained from the text of ,genesis1 v4 #c-cb1 and vii4 #f1 by summing up the ages at which the ,patriarchs begat their eldest sons1 including the date of the flood from that of ,noah4 ,this amount is1 according to the ,hebrew text1 #afef years2 according to the ,septuagint version1 #bbfb years2 and according to the ,samaritan ,pentateuch1 #acjg years4 ,this astonishing discrepancy1 which is found in all the codices of the three texts1 is a ,gordian knot1 which has puzzled the ,christian ,church for more than fifteen centuries6 ,the difference of the three computations is the more remarkable1 inasmuch as all the three texts are considered to have been very carefully preserved6 ,the ,samaritan ,pentateuch rivals the ,hebrew text in point of antiquity1 and is reckoned by some to be the nearest to the true ,mosaic text2 while1 the ,septuagint version is rendered almost sacred1 by the authority of the ,apostles and the early ,fathers of the ,church4 ,which then1 is the true computation8 ,so difficult of solution was this question deemed in the middle ages1 that chronographers1 in order to reconcile the difference between the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint1 even argued the possibility of both texts being equally correct6 ,the ,hebrew computation1 however1 has been followed in modern times chiefly on the authority of the ,latin vulgate1 which is said to have been translated by ,st4 ,jerome4 ,the ,samaritan computation has had comparatively few supporters2 while that of the ,septuagint1 which was universally followed by the ancient chronographers and historians1 both sacred and profane1 has never been wholly abandoned by the ,church even to the present day4 ,with regard to the evidence of the two principal witnesses1 it is manifest that the citations from the ,old ,testament1 which are to be found in the ,new1 are1 in general1 not only in more perfect accordance with the ,septuagint version than with the ,hebrew text 7at least1 as we now have it72 but they are more consistent with the general tenor of the ,sacred ,writings4 ,there is1 on this account1 therefore1 an priori presumption in favour of the accuracy of the numerical statements of the ,septuagint4 ,this presumption is strongly confirmed by a reference to several passages not at all connected with chronology1 of which the following are striking instances4 ,thus1 the day on which ,god ended1 that is1 finished1 or completed the work of creation1 is said to be the #gth in the ,hebrew1 and the #fth in the ,septuagint2 but the latter statement is plainly the correct one1 being confirmed by the context2 see ,genesis ii4 #b1 and i4 #ca4 ,again1 the number of persons present at the ,eisodus of ,israel into ,egypt1 is said to be #gj in the ,hebrew1 and #ge in the ,septuagint2 but the latter number is unquestionably the true one1 because it is confirmed by the ,new ,testament2 see ,genesis xlvi4 #bg1 and ,acts vii4 #ad4 ,in general1 it may be observed1 that the numerical statements of the ,hebrew text1 in many places differ materially from those of the ,septuagint1 and even from those of other places of that text1 where we are certain1 from the nature of the context1 that they ought to be precisely the same4 ,the following instances1 taken at random1 7and their number might be greatly increased17 will confirm this assertion1 by a comparison of the different passages1 even in our own version3--,exodus xii4 #cg1 and xxxviii4 #bf1 with ,numbers i4 #df1 and ii4 #cb2 ,numbers xxxv4 #d1 with ,numbers xxxv4 #e2 #a ,samuel xviii4 #bg1 with #b ,samuel iii4 #ad2 #b ,samuel xv4 #g1 with #a ,kings ii4 #aa2 #b ,samuel xxiv4 #ac1 with #a ,chronicles xxi4 #ab2 and #a ,kings ix4 #bh1 with #b ,chronicles viii4 #ah4 #b4 ,origin and effect of various readings--,the immaculate purity and miraculous preservation of the ,hebrew text1 a figment--,consistency of the word of ,god4 ,from the occurrence of such discrepancies as these1 both in the original texts and the ancient versions1 it is evident1 that the authenticity of each numerical statement must be carefully examined per se1 and tested by the multiplied means for the discovery of the truth which we possess in modern times4 ,for1 although the providence of ,god has watched over the ,sacred ,scriptures in a very remarkable manner1 yet still they are found liable to the same causes of textual error as all other writings2 so true is the ,apostle's humbling remark1 that1 8we have this0 heavenly 8treasure in earthen vessels1 that the excellency of the power may be of ,god and not of us40 ,accordingly1 from the necessity and frequency of copying the ,,mss4 7,deuteronomy xvii4 #ah7 during so many ages previous to the invention of printing1 and from the inaccuracy and inadvertency of uninspired scribes1 have arisen what are called 8,various ,readings0 in the ,scriptures1 both of the ,old and ,new ,testament2 and1 although these1 and other discrepancies above mentioned1 do not in the slightest degree affect the grand question of salvation1 yet they have a serious influence on important questions in sacred history and chronology1 and in the interpretation of prophecy4 ,indeed1 the extraordinary and multiplied collations of ,hebrew ,,mss4 and editions of the ,old ,testament1 accomplished by the indefatigable labours of ,kennicott and ,de ,rossi1 have brought to light such a host of variations in the original text1 as completely to put to flight the antiquated notion of the 8immaculate purity0 and 8miraculous preservation0 of the ,hebrew ,verity1 which was so long and so strenuously maintained by critics and divines1 and which held fast its position in their hermeneutical ,canon1 even so late as the #ahth century4 ,moreover1 it is manifest priori1 that it is quite impossible for two different numbers1 or sets of numbers1 both relating to the same facts1 and in precisely the same manner1 to be perfectly accurate and authentic6 ,we shall feel no hesitation1 therefore1 in preferring the ,septuagint version to the ,hebrew text1 or the ,hebrew text to the ,septuagint version1 according as the evidence for the truth1 appears to us1 to preponderate in favour of the one document or the other4 ,it is even possible that the true number connected with some important event1 though originally in both documents1 cannot now be found in either4 ,we shall1 in such a case1 feel perfectly justified in adopting that number which can be demonstrated to be the true one1 whether it be discovered in an ancient version or commentary1 history1 or chronicon4 ,the word of ,god1 like all truth1 must be perfectly consistent with itself2 and if through the lapse of ages1 any part of that word has been corrupted or lost1 it becomes a ,christian duty1 as well as a philosophic employment1 to make all possible search for its recovery1 not only that our own faith may be strengthened and confirmed1 but that the mind of every sincere enquirer may be satisfied4 #c4 ,tables of the ,discrepancies of the three texts with regard to the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs3 ,table ,i41 ,in their ,antepaidogonian ages--,table ,,ii41 ,in their ,postpaidogonian ages--,table ,,iii41 ,in their whole lives--,internal evidence afforded by the ,tables in favour of the computation of the ,septuagint--,the ,discrepancies of the ,hebrew and ,samaritan the work of design--,proof of this fact from the ,scriptures4 ,we now proceed to state our arguments in favour of the computation of the ,septuagint1 which we consider as that of the original and genuine chronology of the ,sacred ,scriptures4 ,as we shall have frequent occasion to refer to the ages at which the ,patriarchs began to beget their children1 and to the residues or remaining portions of their lives1 we shall adopt a phraseology sanctioned by the example of ,usher1#b and call the former their ,antepaidogonian ages1 and the latter1 their ,postpaidogonian ages4 ,the following ,table1 relating to the first age1 exhibits the discrepancies of the three texts1 with regard to the ,antepaidogonian ages of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs1 and the ,anni ,mundi1 or years of the world1 in which they were born3-- ,,table ,i4 ,,antediluvian ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,samaritan4 ,,patriarchs4 ,a4,p4 ,born ,a4,p4 ,born ,a4,p4 ,born ages4 ,a4,m4 ages4 ,a4,m4 ages4 ,a4,m4 ,from ,creation #j #j #j ,adam #acj #a #bcj #a #acj #a ,seth #aje #acj #bje #bcj #aje #acj ,enos #ij #bce #aij #dce #ij #bce ,cainan #gj #cbe #agj #fbe #gj #cbe ,mahalaleel #fe #cie #afe #gie #fe #cie ,jared 99#afb #dfj #afb #ifj 99#fb #dfj ,enoch #fe #fbb #afe #aabb #fe #ebb ,methuselah 99#ahg #fhg #ahg #abhg 99#fg #ehg ,lamech 99#ahb #hgd #ahh #adgd 99#ec #fed ,noah #ejj #ajef #ejj #affb #ejj #gjg ,to the ,flood #ajj #ajj #ajj -------- -------- -------- ,,first ,,age #afef years4 #bbfb years4 #acjg years4 ,the numbers marked with a star in this and subsequent ,tables1 are those in which the discrepancies are the most striking1 and produce the most anomalous or absurd results in ,chronology4 ,the following auxiliary ,table exhibits the discrepancies of the three texts with regard to the ,postpaidogonian ages of the same ,patriarchs1 and the ,a4,m41 or years of the world in which they died3-- ,,table ,,ii4 ,,antediluvian ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,samaritan4 ,,patriarchs4 ,p4,p4 ,died ,p4,p4 ,died ,p4,p4 ,died ages4 ,a4,m4 ages4 ,a4,m4 ages4 ,a4,m4 ,adam #hjj #ica #gjj #ica #hjj #ica ,seth #hjg #ajdb #gjg #aadb #hjg #ajdb ,enos #hae #aadj #gae #acdj #hae #aadj ,cainan #hdj #abce #gdj #aece #hdj #abce ,mahalaleel #hcj #abij #gcj #afij #hcj #abij ,jared #hjj #adbb #hjj #aibb 99#ghe 99#acjg ,enoch #cjj #ihg #bjj #adhg #cjj #hhg translated ,methuselah #ghb #afef #ghb #bbef 99#fec 99#acjg ,lamech 99#eie #afea #efe #bbbg 99#fjj 99#acjg ,noah #cej #bjjf #cej #bfab #cej #afeg ,lastly1 the following ,table exhibits the discrepancies of the three texts with regard to the ,whole ,lives of these ,patriarchs1 and the number of their generations from ,adam3-- ,,table ,,iii4 ,,antediluvian ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,samaritan4 ,,patriarchs4 ,w4 ,no4 ,w4 ,no4 ,w4 ,no4 lives4 lives4 lives4 ,adam #icj #a #icj #a #icj #a ,seth #iab #b #iab #b #iab #b ,enos #ije #c #ije #c #ije #c ,cainan #iaj #d #iaj #d #iaj #d ,mahalaleel #hie #e #hie #e #hie #e ,jared #ifb #f #ifb #f 99#hdg #f ,enoch #cfe #g #cfe #g #cfe #g ,methuselah #ifi #h #ifi #h 99#gbj #h ,lamech 99#ggg #i #gec #i 99#fec #i ,noah #iej #aj #iej #aj #iej #aj ,let us now examine the internal evidence afforded by these tables in favour of our argument4 ,on looking at ,table ,,iii41 we perceive that the whole lives of these ,patriarchs1 with the exception of that of ,lamech1 are all exactly the same1 both in the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint2 but that in the ,samaritan1 three of them are very considerably different1 namely1 those of ,jared1 ,methuselah1 and ,lamech4 ,it is plain1 therefore1 that we must prefer the testimony of the two former witnesses to that of the latter4 ,moreover1 it is evident that the lives of the three ,patriarchs in question have been shortened in the ,samaritan1 in order that their deaths should be represented as all occurring in the year of the flood1 see ,table ,,ii42 for1 had their lives been preserved as entire in this text1 as in the other two1 they would1 contrary to the express words of ,scripture1 have survived the flood by #aae1 #bdi1 and #ajj years respectively6 ,the evidence of the ,samaritan text being thus clearly excluded1 we have only to settle the claims of the other two witnesses on the question of the life of ,lamech4 ,as in this case all the witnesses differ in their statements1 we are deprived of the evidence of double testimony1 and we must resort to another test of the truth4 ,in the mean time it is proper to observe that the date of the flood from creation will not1 in the slightest degree1 be affected by the discrepancy of the three texts on this point4 ,the most striking discrepancies1 however1 are to be found in the first two ,tables4 ,on looking at ,table ,i41 we perceive that six of the ,hebrew ,antepaidogonian ages1 namely1 the first five1 and the seventh1 have been diminished by the exact number of #ajj years2 for1 omitting that of ,noah1 which is the same in all1 the remaining three agree with those of the ,septuagint1 with the exception of six years only1 in that of ,lamech4 ,again3--,on looking at ,table ,,ii41 we perceive that the six ,hebrew ,postpaidogonian ages1 corresponding to the six former ages1 have been increased by the exact number of #ajj years2 for1 the remaining three1 corresponding to the three former ages1 agree with those of the ,septuagint1 with the exception of #cj years in that of ,lamech4 ,it is manifest1 therefore1 on the slightest consideration of the question1 that the centenary increase of the six ,hebrew ,postpaidogonian ages was made to balance the centenary decrease of the six ,hebrew ,antepaidogonian ages1 in order to preserve the integrity of the whole lives of the ,patriarchs4 ,these discrepancies1 especially the regular centenary difference which occurs six times1 have led to the uniform opinion among almost all chronologers1 from the period of their first discovery1 in the second century1 till the present day1 that they were the work of design or artifice1 and not the offspring of chance or mistake6 ,the regularity of the ,antepaidogonian ages of the ,septuagint1 argues very strongly in favour of their accuracy2 while1 the irregularity of those of the ,hebrew text militates powerfully against the supposition of their being correct4 ,for1 in accordance with the language of ,scripture1 and the experience of all ages1 8generation comes1 and generation goes1 and the earth continues stationary for the age10 7,ecclesiastes i4 #d72c little change is therefore likely to have taken place in the ,ante and ,post ,paidogonian ages and whole lives of those almost millenarian patriarchs1 except by the special interposition of ,god1 and for some specific purpose1 which he would have condescended to reveal unto man4 ,hence1 we find that when the ,patriarch ,enoch1 8the seventh from ,adam10 was appointed1 as the first ,prophet on record1 to announce to the old world the mingled news of redemption and judgment1 he was afterwards translated to heaven without dying1 before three of his ancestors 7according to the ,septuagint71 and about six centuries before the usual term of human life in that age of wonders2 so soon and so strikingly did the ,lord sanction the message of his faithful servant1 and admit him at once to his eternal and glorious reward4 #d4 ,reasons assigned for the alterations in the ,hebrew and ,samaritan--,accuracy of the ,septuagint demonstrated--,an objection to its chronology removed--,utility of the publication of fac simile editions of the codices--,late origin of the printed ,hebrew text--,its original agreement with the ,septuagint proved4 ,moreover1 the remarkable circumstance that three of the ,hebrew ,antepaidogonian ages1 namely1 those of ,jared1 ,methuselah1 and ,lamech1 exceed other three1 namely--those of ,cainan1 ,mahalaleel1 and ,enoch1 by a difference of about #ajj years1 although the former patriarchs stood so nearly related to the latter1 argues that some good reason must have existed in the minds of those who dared to make the alterations1 for not abstracting the usual centenary difference from the former4 ,accordingly1 we find that if this alteration had been effected on the ,hebrew ,antepaidogonian ages of ,jared1 ,methuselah1 and ,lamech1 in order to make them uniform with the rest in this respect1 the flood would1 according to that text1 have taken place in ,a4,m4 #acef1 their ,postpaidogonian ages would have been #ijj1 #hhb1 and #fie years1 and they would1 contrary to ,scripture1 have survived the flood by #ff1 #bjj1 and #ie years respectively6 ,this anticipated result affords the strongest presumptive evidence that the ,hebrew ,antepaidogonian ages must all have been originally the same as those of the ,septuagint2 and that to serve some particular purpose1 a century was abstracted from six of them1 but not from the remaining three2 because if this had been done1 either the integrity of the whole lives corresponding to them would have been destroyed1 or the three patriarchs in question would have been falsely represented1 as having long survived the deluge4 ,the ,hebrew text 7as it now exists71 represents ,methuselah as dying in the very year of the flood1 although only forty days of it had elapsed when ,noah entered the ,ark6 ,thus1 according to that text1 the only man of that age who 8walked with ,god10 and was 8righteous before him in that generation10 would have1 in addition to the distressing cares and the unutterable sympathies attending the arrival of ,god's awful judgment1--the personal and relative sorrow of heart arising from the death and burial of his pious and aged grandfather2 but we know that ,god 8doth not afflict willingly1 nor grieve the children of men20 and we have much reason1 therefore1 to question the accuracy of this coincidence2 for1 to suppose with some1 that ,methuselah was swept away by the deluge1 would be to contradict the ,scripture1 which affirms that ,noah was 8just and perfect in his generations40 ,this difficulty is entirely removed by the accurate copies of the ,septuagint1 which places the death of ,methuselah six years before the flood4 ,again1 by the ,hebrew text ,lamech is represented as having died five years before that catastrophe1 and consequently before ,methuselah1 being the only instance in the generations of the righteous from ,adam to ,noah1 in which the son paid the debt of nature before the father4 ,but this anomaly evidently arises from the alteration which was made in the ,hebrew ,antepaidogonian age of ,lamech1 by the abstraction of six years1 the difference between it and that of the ,septuagint2 for1 if the original number had been retained as in the case of ,methuselah1 ,lamech would then have been represented as surviving the deluge by one year6 ,according to the present text of the ,septuagint1 ,lamech is indeed represented as having died twenty-nine years before his father2 but if his ,hebrew ,postpaidogonian age be considered as the correct one1 his death would then have taken place five years before the flood1 and one year after that of his father2 thus1 the natural anomaly would be removed1 and the difference between the years of his whole life1 in the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint1 reduced from thirty years to six1 the amount of alteration in his ,hebrew ,antepaidogonian age4 ,the whole question is ably and fully discussed in ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,fulness of the ,times10 pp4 #ach1 #aci1 and his 8,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies tried10 pp4 #cf-de1 on the supposition that ,lamech's ,postpaidogonian age and whole life1 as given in the ,septuagint1 are strictly correct2 but his reasoning is of so lengthened and recondite a nature that we must refer our readers to the works themselves for complete satisfaction on the subject4#d ,the ,samaritan text is more consistent than the ,hebrew with regard to the centenary decrease of the ,antepaidogonian ages2 all of them but that of ,noah1 having been submitted to its operation4 ,this alteration alone1 however1 was found to be totally inadmissible2 because1 as formerly remarked1 the text would then have represented three of the ,patriarchs as long surviving the deluge2 it was therefore necessary to make a farther alteration1 but on what principle it is difficult to divine4 ,we only know that two of the ,antepaidogonian ages1 those of ,methuselah and ,lamech1 were reduced still more1 namely from #hg and #hb years1 to #fg and #ec years respectively2 thereby occasioning a corresponding decrease in the ,postpaidogonian ages of ,jared1 ,methuselah1 and ,lamech1 namely1 from #ijj1 #hhb1 and #fie years1 to #ghe1 #fec1 and #fjj years respectively1 in order to shorten their whole lives1 and to bring the dates of their deaths to coincide with the year of the flood6 ,moreover1 the idea thus conveyed1 that these three ,patriarchs1 either all died within forty days of that event1 or were swept away in the common ruin1--is1 as we have shown in the case of the ,hebrew text1 so contrary to nature and to ,scripture1 that it cannot be entertained for a moment4 ,whatever1 therefore1 may have been the object of these complicated alterations in the ,samaritan1 it is plain that they have been made with much less skill and ingenuity than those of the ,hebrew1 the clumsy artifice being so easy of detection4 ,thus1 we are forced1 by internal evidence alone1 to conclude that the numerical statements of the ,hebrew and ,samaritan texts1 with regard to the ,antepaidogonian ages1--on which their chronology is considered entirely to depend1--have1 with very few exceptions1 been manufactured to serve some particular end or design2 and that those of the ,septuagint are not only entirely free from any appearance of this kind1 but being perfectly natural and consistent with themselves1 possess all the marks of genuineness and authenticity4 ,it has been objected to the accuracy of the chronology of the ,septuagint1 that some copies of that version1 were found at an early period of the ,christian era1 having #afg instead of #ahg years for the ,antepaidogonian age of ,methuselah1 and #hjb instead of #ghb years for his ,postpaidogonian age1 whereby this ,patriarch was represented as surviving the flood by fourteen years6 ,common sense1 however1 teaches that this discrepancy must have been purely owing to a mistake in the transcribers of these copies2 because1 other copies were extant at the same period which contained the correct numbers4 ,mr4 ,clinton1 in his 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i4 p4 #bhf1 proves by extracts from the early chronographers and historians1 that some1 as ,theophilus1 ,eusebius1 ,augustine1 and ,syncellus1 had the faulty reading in their copies2 while others1 as ,demetrius1 ,josephus1 ,africanus1 ,epiphanius1 and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle1 followed the correct copies2 and he states that although 8,augustine had the faulty reading in his copies10 yet 8he judiciously applied the proper remedy1 and adopted the better reading40 ,this difference in the copies has even reached our own times1 and is found in the two oldest and most complete manuscripts of the ,septuagint at present known to exist1 namely1 the ,vatican and ,alexandrine codices2 the edition of the ,scriptures printed from the former having the faulty reading1 and that printed from the latter having the true one4 ,the librarians of the ,british ,museum have indeed1 conferred an invaluable boon on the world1 by the publication of the fac simile of the ,alexandrine codex2 and we most anxiously hope that ere long1 the ,pope will permit#e the fac simile of the ,vatican codex to be published1 especially as it is already printed and ready for circulation6 ,the acknowledged fact that discrepancies exist between this manuscript and the editions printed from it1#f increases the solicitude of all the pious and learned in this country for its immediate publication4 ,would that we could purchase even a single copy6 ,the last argument we shall adduce here in favour of the chronology of the ,septuagint1 and it applies both to the ,ante and ,post ,diluvian ages1 is derived from the deliberate opinion of ,dr4 ,kennicott4 ,in his valuable posthumous work1 entitled 8,remarks on ,select ,passages of the ,old ,testament10 p4 #af1 he says1 8,it has been proved from ,eusebius1 that some ,hebrew copies0 of the ,old ,testament1 8having the larger numbers1 existed in the fourth century2 and others1 on the authority of ,jacob ,edessenus1 as late as the year #gjj2 whilst others much later1 are mentioned in the chronicle of ,ecchellensis4 ,and though such manuscripts are all perhaps now lost1 yet are these testimonies confirmed by the traditions still preserved among the ,jews themselves1 as to ,seth being born a hundred and thirty years after ,abel's death60 ,moreover1 it is acknowledged by biblical critics1 that all the copies of the present ,hebrew text were taken from manuscripts of date later than the ninth century2 and1 that the striking uniformity which all the printed editions exhibit1 is to be attributed to the fact1 that they were all copied from the same codex4 ,dr4 ,hales also gives citations from ,eusebius1 from the ,jewish ,targums1 and from other works1 in which decided reference is made to the larger numbers as they anciently existed in the ,hebrew4#g ,in fine1 ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in his 8,dissertation on the ,apocalypse10 p4 #ece1 fourth edition1 proves1 on the authority of ancient ,jewish tradition1 that ,adam was two hundred and thirty years old when he begat ,seth2 consequently1 by the argument ex uno disce omnes1 we conclude that the whole of the ,antepaidogonian ages are correctly given in the ,septuagint1 and that the true extent of the ,,antediluvian ,,age1 is #bbfb years4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,second ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #a4 ,discrepancies of the three texts--,unfounded hypothesis of ,usher--,agreement of ,josephus with the ,septuagint--,authority of this ,version in the ,church--,its chronology confirmed by the most authentic ,chinese annals--,reasons why the ,jews altered the ,hebrew text4 ,the extent of the ,second1 or ,postdiluvian ,age1 is ascertained from the text of ,genesis x4 #ba-be2 xi4 #aj-cb1 and xii4 #d2 by summing up the ,antepaidogonian ages of the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 including the date of the ,call of ,abraham from that of ,terah4 ,this amount is1 according to the ,hebrew text1 and the ,latin ,vulgate1 #cfg years2 according to ,usher's view of that text1 #dbg years2 according to the ,septuagint1 #aadg years2 and1 according to the ,samaritan1 #ajag years4 ,this enormous discrepancy is another ,gordian knot of equal difficulty with the former1 and requiring for its resolution1 a similar process of investigation and argument4 ,before resuming the discussion1 however1 it is proper to notice a very able and logical article in the 8,cours ,complet de ,theologie0 of ,m4 ,l',abb ,migne1 entitled 8,chronographi ,,lxx ,interpretum ,defensio40 ,the author of this dissertation enters fully into the critical history of the ,septuagint version1 and investigates the causes of the existing discrepancies between it and the ,hebrew text4 ,he powerfully vindicates the authenticity and authority of the ,septuagint2 he clearly refutes the absurd suppositions which have been advanced from time to time by critics in order to account for the numerical errors which the advocates of the ,hebrew verity suppose it contains2 and1 he completely demolishes the unfounded hypothesis of ,usher as to the fancied existence of two ,greek versions1 both of which were ascribed to the ,seventy interpreters6#h ,he next discusses the authority of the ,samaritan ,pentateuch1 and proves that it1 as well as the ,hebrew1 originally contained the same numerical statements as the ,septuagint2 and shews that it is entitled to be heard as an additional witness in regard to the ,postdiluvian age1 notwithstanding its error in the matter of the ,junior ,cainan4 ,he treats1 in a very full and impartial manner1 of the authority of ,josephus as an historian and chronographer1 and institutes a careful and searching inquiry into his numerical statements1 which are universally admitted to be so puzzling and contradictory4 ,he clearly elicits1 however1 the undeniable fact that the numbers of ,josephus originally agreed with those of the ,septuagint1 both before and after the flood2 but he avows that they have been so vitiated by careless or designing copyists1 that it is impossible to establish a perfect coincidence4 ,the author then shows that in the first ages of ,christianity1 the ,septuagint translation was esteemed a divine production2 that by the citations made from it in the ,new ,testament1 it has received the stamp and seal of ,christ and his ,apostles1 as a genuine and faithful witness of the truth2 and that the ancient chronology of this version was reckoned authentic by the whole ,christian ,church till the ninth century4 ,he next inquires into the authenticity of the chronological statements of profane historians1 particularly among the ,chinese and the ,egyptians2 and shows that the true and ancient records of these nations are wholly irreconcileable with the shorter chronology4 ,thus1 the era of the ,emperor ,yao1 according to the most authentic ,chinese annals1 is ,b4 ,c4 #bceg2 so that1 according to the ,hebrew chronology1 even as expounded by ,usher1 he flourished thirteen years before the flood6 ,while1 according to that of the ,septuagint1 he flourished in the ninth century after the flood1 or forty-one years after the division of the earth among the primitive founders of the nations4#i ,the author next refutes some popular objections to the computation of the ,septuagint1 founded1 first1 on the supposed immaculate purity and miraculous preservation of the ,hebrew text2 secondly1 on the supposed antiquity of the ,chaldee paraphrasts1 the ,syriac version1 and the ,indian and ,chinese copies of the ,pentateuch2 and thirdly1 on the decree of the ,council of ,trent1 in reference to the paramount authority of the ,latin ,vulgate4 ,he concludes by offering some reasonable conjectures on the causes of the discrepancies in question2 and1 he shows that the early ,fathers were generally of opinion that the ,jews had violated and mystified the numbers of the sacred text1 in order1 to disturb and confuse the times which related to the ,advent of the ,messiah1 and thereby to confute the ,christians1 by pretending to prove from that text1 that ,jesus ,christ could not be the true ,messiah1 because he had appeared before the period predicted by the prophets1 namely1 the middle of the sixth millenary from ,creation4 ,such is but a short and hasty sketch of one of the ablest treatises we have yet seen1 on the ,ante and ,post ,diluvian chronology of the ,septuagint4 #b4 ,tables of the ,discrepancies of the three texts with regard to the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs3 ,table ,,iv41 ,in their ,antepaidogonian ages--,table ,v41 ,in their ,postpaidogonian ages--,table ,,vi41 ,in their whole ,lives4 ,the following ,table relating to the ,second ,age1 exhibits the discrepancies of the three texts1 with regard to the ,antepaidogonian ages of the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 and the years of the world1 in which they were born3-- ,,table ,,iv4 ,,postdiluvian ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,samaritan4 ,,patriarchs4 ,a4,p4 ,born ,a4,p4 ,born ,a4,p4 ,born ages4 ,a4,m4 ages4 ,a4,m4 ages4 ,a4,m4 ,from the ,flood #b #b #b ,arphaxad #ce #afeh #ace #bbfd #ace #acji ,cainan#aj #acj #bcii ,salah #cj #afic #acj #bebi #acj #addd ,heber #cd #agbc #acd #bfei #acd #aegd ,peleg #cj #ageg #acj #bgic #acj #agjh ,reu #cb #aghg #acb #bibc #acb #ahch ,serug #cj #ahai #acj #cjee #acj #aigj ,nahor 99#bi #ahdi #gi #cahe #gi #bajj ,terah #gj #ahgh #gj #cbfd #gj #bagi ,to the ,call of #ge #aidh #ge #cccd #ge #bbdi ,abraham -------- -------- -------- ,,second ,,age #cfg years4 #aadg years4 #ajag years4 ,the following auxiliary ,table exhibits the discrepancies of the three texts with regard to the ,postpaidogonian ages of the same ,patriarchs1 and the years of the world in which they died3-- ,,table ,v4 ,,postdiluvian ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,samaritan4 ,,patriarchs4 ,p4,p4 ,died ,p4,p4 ,died ,p4,p4 ,died ages4 ,a4,m4 ages4 ,a4,m4 ages4 ,a4,m4 ,arphaxad #djc #bjif #djc #bhjb #cjc #agdg ,cainan#aj #ccj #bhei ,salah #djc #babf #cjc #bifb #cjc #ahgg ,heber #dcj #bahg #bgj #cjfc #bgj #aigh ,peleg #bji #aiif #bji #cacb #aji #aidg ,reu #bjg #bjbf #bjg #cbfb #ajg #bjgg ,serug #bjj #bjdi #bjj #cche #ajj #bbjj ,nahor 99#aai #aiig 99#abi #ccic 99#fi #bbdh ,terah 99#ace #bjhc 99#ace #cdfi 99#ge #bcbd ,abraham #ge #babc #ge #ceji #ge #bdbd ,lastly1 the following ,table exhibits the discrepancies of the three texts with regard to the whole lives of these ,patriarchs1 and the number of their generations from the flood3-- ,,table ,,vi4 ,,postdiluvian ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,samaritan4 ,,patriarchs4 ,w4 ,no4 ,w4 ,no4 ,w4 ,no4 lives4 lives4 lives4 ,arphaxad #dch #a #ech #a #dch #a ,cainan#aj #dfj #b ,salah #dcc #b #dcc #c #dcc #b ,heber #dfd #c #djd #d #djd #c ,peleg #bci #d #cci #e #bci #d ,reu #bci #e #cci #f #bci #e ,serug #bcj #f #ccj #g #bcj #f ,nahor 99#adh #g 99#bjh #h 99#adh #g ,terah 99#bje #h 99#bje #i 99#ade #h ,abraham #age #i #age #aj #age #i #c4 ,authenticity of the ,second ,cainan--,dilemma of the ,venerable ,bede--,mistake of ,mr4 ,clinton and ,mr4 ,horne--,usher's ,dissertation--,inconsistency of authorized translations of the ,bible--,rashness of ,beza--,the ,second ,cainan in the most ancient ,codices--,mistake of ,bede1 ,hales1 and other chronographers4 ,let us examine the internal evidence again afforded by these ,tables1 in favour of our argument4 ,on comparing their different columns1 we find that the name and generation of one of the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 called by chronologers the ,second or ,junior ,cainan1 has been either entirely lost or wilfully omitted in the ,hebrew and ,samaritan texts4 ,this assertion we make with the utmost confidence1 because in ,luke iii4 #cf1 this ,cainan is distinctly enumerated in the genealogy of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and his name is found in all the ,,mss4 of the ,new ,testament1 with the exception of the ,codex ,bez1 which it is well known has been corrupted in this place4 ,the hallucinations of commentators and chronologers on this point1 are perhaps the most extraordinary which the annals of ,criticism can furnish4 ,to refer no farther back than to the days of the venerable ,bede1 we find him1 in the preface to his commentary on the ,acts1 confessing himself unequal to the task of solving this difficult question2 and1 he greatly marvels why 8ten generations only1 from the flood to ,abraham1 are found in the ,hebrew verity10 while the inspired ,luke chose to put 8eleven in his ,gospel1 ,cainan being added according to the ,seventy ,interpreters40 ,in his exposition of that ,gospel1 he touches on the same question1 and says with singular navet1 8but which of these is the truer1 or whether both can be true1 ,god knoweth60#aa ,modern critics appear to have had much less difficulty in settling this important matter4 ,mr4 ,clinton1 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i4 pp4 #bhh-big1 after citing all the testimonies of the ancient chronographers for and against the generation of the second ,cainan1 hastily concludes that it is a 8spurious addition to the text20 and1 although he admits its existence in the 8,greek copies10 yet he entirely omits to cite the testimony of ,st4 ,luke1 who must have been better acquainted with the genealogy of ,christ than any of the chronographers6 ,his silence on this point would seem to indicate that he had some doubts of the authenticity of the text in question4 ,he has1 however1 given an extract from ,syncellus1 affirming that the second ,cainan was in all the copies of the ,septuagint in his time1 censuring ,eusebius for omitting him1 and stating that ,st4 ,luke reckons him the #acth from ,adam4 ,syncellus1 in this passage1 very properly includes ,shem in the genealogy1 although he is necessarily omitted in the chronology2 because1 he was an ,antediluvian by birth1 his ,antepaidogonian age being entirely omitted in the ,scriptures1 and the birth of his son being reckoned from the flood4 ,hence1 we find that all the ancient writers reckon ,noah the tenth from ,adam1 and ,abraham the tenth from the flood1 ,shem being evidently the eleventh from ,adam1 and ,abraham the twenty-first4 ,with feelings of the greatest respect for the extensive learning and deep research of ,mr4 ,clinton1 we would seriously advise him to consult the ,codex ,alexandrinus in the ,british ,museum1 and convince himself by ocular demonstration1 as we have done1 of the genuineness and authenticity of the testimonies of the ,evangelist and the ,seventy ,interpreters to the undeniable fact of the existence of the ,postdiluvian ,cainan4 ,dr4 ,hales1 8,analysis of ,chronology10#ab vol4 i4 p4 #ij1 appears to have strongly felt the weight of ,st4 ,luke's authority on this point1 although1 following the recent ,masorete and ,samaritan texts1 he rejects this generation4 ,mr4 ,horne1 8,critical ,introduction to the ,holy ,scriptures10 vol4 iii4 p4 #efa1 #gth edition1 asserts that 8,st4 ,luke wrote for those ,christians who read the ,greek version more than the original ,hebrew1 and consequently he preferred their version1 which adds the name of ,cainan to the genealogy of ,shem60 ,the desire to humour the prejudices of any set of readers1 by adding a spurious generation to 8the genealogy of ,shem10 is too serious a charge to bring against the ,evangelist2 but when we consider that this would be1 in fact1 adding a spurious generation to 8the genealogy of ,christ10 the charge becomes infinitely more serious6 ,the attempt of chronologers to mutilate this authentic document1 by the exclusion of one of the ancestors of our ,lord1 is so great an injury to the ,christian verity1 that we do not wonder at the pointed question put by ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 8,fulness of the ,times10 p4 #bjj1 8,did ,st4 ,luke prefer a lie to the truth1 to please men80 ,in order to satisfy his own mind1 and to vindicate his system of chronology from the charge of having unwarrantably omitted this generation1 by following too closely the ,hebrew verity1 ,usher deemed it necessary to write in his 8,chronologia ,sacra10 a prolix ,dissertation1 entitled 8,de ,cainano ,arphaxadi filio1 c410 to which our limits permit us only to refer4 ,the whole question1 however1 is discussed in a very clear and satisfactory manner1 in ,dr4 ,russell's 8,connection of ,sacred and ,profane ,history10 vol4 i4 pp4 #aeh-afg4 ,there is also a most admirable summary of the arguments in proof of the existence of this ,cainan1 in ,mr4 ,cuninghame's work above cited1 where our readers will find some very judicious strictures on the 8,scripture ,chronology0 of ,mr4 ,clinton2 see pp4 #ahg-bjg4 ,a candid perusal of these works must lead to the inevitable conclusion that the name of the ,second ,cainan ought not to have been rejected from the ,sacred ,text4 ,it is strange1 however1 to observe that in our authorized version of the ,scriptures1 this generation has been excluded from the ,old ,testament1 while it has been admitted into the ,new4 ,such a manifest inconsistency should have been avoided in a version intended for public use in all the churches1 and sanctioned by royal authority6 ,the ,latin ,vulgate1 published by the 8supreme authority0 of the ,roman ,pontiff1 is equally liable to the same charge of inconsistency2 while ,theodore ,beza1 in his ,latin version of the ,new ,testament1 has omitted this generation altogether6 ,for this bold step1 ,beza had no other authority than the 8,codex ,grcolatinus10 which1 from having been in his possession1 bears his own name2 and which1 while reckoned of 8little critical value10 is the only manuscript of the ,new ,testament discovered to be deficient in this respect4 ,the ,second ,cainan is1 moreover1 found in all the ,greek manuscripts of the ,old ,testament1 both in ,genesis x4 #bd1 and xi4 #ac2 and1 also in many copies1 in #a ,chronicles i4 #ah and #bd1--this chapter being imperfect in the ,vatican ,codex1 but complete in the ,codex ,alexandrinus4 ,in confirmation of our argument1 it is proper to state1 that there exists a fragment of a very ancient codex1 which lays claim even to a higher antiquity than either of these codices1 being described in the words of ,usher1 8,syntagma de ,septuaginta10 cap4 ii4 p4 #ah1 as 8omnium qui uspiam hodie extant vetustissimus10 and known by the name of the 8,codex ,cottonianus40 ,of this codex1 unfortunately1 a certain portion of ,genesis only remains2 but it is of immense 8critical value10 as it confirms the true readings of the ,ante and ,post ,paidogonian ages of ,methuselah1 and of the passages relating to the second ,cainan4 ,in the collation of this fragment 8cum editione ,roman10 that is1 with the ,vatican edition1 by ,dr4 ,grabe1--posthumously published by ,dr4 ,h4 ,owen1--there are two fac simile engravings of a portion of the manuscript1 exhibiting the old1 uncial ,greek letters1 unaccented and unspirited1 like the codex ,alexandrinus1 and 7curious to remark7 exhibiting also the effigies of four of the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 spoken of in the adjacent text1--one being the very identical personage1 whose existence is not recognized by the ,masorete and ,samaritan texts1 and is therefore so stoutly denied by the defenders of the ,hebrew verity6 ,we copy from the preface1 the explanation of one of the pictures1 the plates of which were engraven at the expence of the ,antiquarian ,society of ,london1 in #agdd3--8;,figurarum ,explicatio4--,tabula ,prima4 ,fig4 ,,ii4 ,arphaxadus1 ,semi filius1 cum uxore sua et filio ,cainane4 ,gen4 xi4 #ab1 #ac40ac ,the unaccountable mistake committed by ,bede1 in supposing that ,abraham would be the eleventh generation from the flood1 if the ,junior ,cainan were admitted into the text1 has been copied by a host of chronologers since his time1 including both ,dr4 ,hales and ,mr4 ,clinton6 ,nothing1 however1 is more surprising than the pertinacity of error1 especially when it rests on the authority of an esteemed or a learned man4 ,we have seen that when the ,second ,cainan is admitted into the text1 ,abraham must be reckoned the tenth generation from the flood2 consequently1 if he be rejected1 ,abraham must be reckoned only the ninth1--contrary to the united voice of antiquity1 both sacred and profane6 ,hales and ,clinton have both cited extracts in proof of this argument1 from the most ancient chronographers1 particularly ,berosus1 ,josephus1 and ,philo1 shewing that ,abraham was universally reckoned the tenth generation after the flood4 ,the subterfuge adopted by the advocates of the ,hebrew verity1 in reckoning ,shem1--an ,antediluvian1--as one of the generations after the flood1 in order to make up their number1 is too weak to require any comment4 ,there is no doubt1 therefore1 that both ,hales and ,clinton are in the wrong2 and1 that ,jackson1 ,russell1 and ,cuninghame1 who admit the ,second ,cainan1 are 8in the right40 ,the ancient testimonies which the former authors cite in favour of their own argument1 most decidedly confirm that of their opponents2 consequently1 they have the merit of drawing 8opposite conclusions from the same facts10--conclusions alike opposite to the truth1 and to the ,new ,testament4 #d4 ,internal evidence afforded by the ,tables in favour of the computation of the ,septuagint--,omissions in the ,hebrew and ,septuagint retained in the ,samaritan--,accordance of the ,septuagint with nature and providence--,mr4 ,cuninghame's argument from analogy--,the alterations of ,origen in the text of the ,septuagint4 ,with reference to the three ,postdiluvian ,tables1 we find that the discrepancies of the three texts exhibit greater irregularities in ,tables ,v4 and ,,vi4 than in ,table ,,iv4 ,it is manifest that these discrepancies are also the work of design or artifice1 and not the offspring of chance or mistake4 ,the regular centenary difference between the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint1 occurs in six of the ,antepaidogonian ages1 namely1 the first seven1 omitting the second1 which1 as we have seen1 is wanting both in the ,hebrew and the ,samaritan2 while1 singular to remark1 in these six ages1 the ,samaritan agrees exactly with the ,septuagint6 ,to counterbalance this regular centenary decrease in the ,antepaidogonian ages in the ,hebrew1 we should have expected1 as in the former case1 that there would be a regular centenary increase of the corresponding ,postpaidogonian ages1 in order to preserve the integrity of the whole lives4 ,this appears1 however1 to have been considered as a matter of no moment in regard to the whole lives of the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 because the usual obituary statements regarding them have been entirely omitted both in the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint1 while they have been preserved in the ,samaritan4 ,accordingly1 we find that the ,samaritan1 in the ,postpaidogonian ages1 agrees only in two out of the six with the ,septuagint1 and in none at all with the ,hebrew4 ,moreover1 the difference between the ,samaritan and the ,hebrew1 is an exact centenary in five out of the six2 while the ,hebrew coincides entirely with the ,septuagint in four1--one of the remaining two1 being the only case in which there is an exact centenary increase to balance the centenary decrease in the corresponding ,antepaidogonian age4 ,in the corresponding whole lives1 the ,samaritan agrees with the ,hebrew in five out of the six1 while the ,septuagint and the ,hebrew agree only in one4 ,the assimilation of the ,samaritan to the ,hebrew in the whole lives1 and its almost perfect agreement with the ,septuagint in the ,antepaidogonian ages1 while it differs so much from both in other respects1 render its testimony as an uncorrupted witness quite inadmissible2 yet1 as it contains manifest traces of the truth1 especially in regard to the latter statements1 on which the chronology mainly depends1 we deem the double testimony of the ,septuagint and ,samaritan of very considerable importance to our argument4 ,this importance is greatly increased1 when we consider that the statements respecting the whole lives in the three texts cannot be compared1 because they are now only to be found in the ,samaritan1 and1 even in it1 in a mutilated form2 the ,hebrew and ,septuagint columns of ,table ,,vi4 having been obtained from those of ,tables ,,iv4 and ,v41 by the simple process of addition4 ,we1 therefore1 entirely agree with ,dr4 ,hales#ad in the opinion1 that they must have originally existed in all the texts2 first1 because they are given in all in the ,antediluvian period1 and no sufficient reason can be assigned why they are not also given in all in the ,postdiluvian period2 and secondly1 because1 though no trace of them is left in the ,hebrew1 yet there is some in the ,septuagint1 the latter still containing the last clause of each statement1 in the words-- 1--8and he died40 ,an important argument in favour of the longer computation is derived from the consideration that the decrease in the duration of human life after the flood1 for the first ten generations1 is more natural and progressive in the ,septuagint than in the other two texts2 for1 in the latter there are greater leaps between the terms of the progression1 and some of the differences even become negative1 which is not the case in the former4 ,moreover1 the decrease in the ,greek series of lives1 seems to be more in accordance with the usual proceedings of ,god's providence1 and with the history of the human race1--instances of longevity having slowly and gradually diminished both in number and extent1 according as mankind approached a greater degree of civilization and refinement4 ,in the preface to part second of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,fulness of the ,times10 p4 xvii41 the author has discussed this question in a very full and satisfactory manner4 ,he shews that1 in the ,septuagint1 8there are deep analogies observable in the gradual diminution of human life40 ,thus1 8from ,arphaxad to ,serug are seven generations10 and 8from ,nahor to ,kohath are seven generations40 ,now1 from his observations1 it appears that the lives of the first and last of both septenaries1 constitute1 with the highest average of human life in the days of ,moses 7,psalm xc4 #aj71 a series of terms very nearly in geometrical progression1 namely1 #ech1 #ccj1 #bjh1 #acc1 and #hj1 of which the approximate ratio is #j4fb2 but if the same test be applied to the ,hebrew lives1 namely #dch1 #bcj1 #adh1 #acc1 and #hj1 7the two latter terms being the same in both texts17 the regularity of the progression utterly fails2 for1 if the ratio of the first two terms were continued1 the succeeding terms would be so much reduced1 that the highest average of human life would become less than half its true length6 ,the omission of the statements respecting the whole lives in the ,septuagint1 can only be accounted for1 on the principle of undue deference to the ,hebrew text and to ,jewish prejudices1 after the era of the publication of the ,hexapla1 the ,octapla1 and the ,enneapla of the celebrated ,origen4 ,this daring innovator in the ,church of ,god1 so altered the original form of the ,septuagint1 in order to make it correspond with the ,hebrew text1--which he appears to have first received from the hands of the ,jews with the most unsuspecting confidence1--that the complete restoration of the autograph of the ,seventy interpreters1 is1 at this immense distance of time1 a question extremely problematical4 #e4 ,mistake of ,usher1 adopted by ,hales and ,clinton1 as to the ,antepaidogonian age of ,terah--,mr4 ,cuninghame's arguments unanswerable--,his proof of the chronology of the ,seventy from the discovery of its ,cyclical character--,testimony of ,eusebius to the true data of ,abraham's birth--,table ,,vii4 ,extent of the first two ages of the world4 ,the extraordinary hallucination of ,usher in adopting the unfounded opinion of some of the later chronographers1 that ,abraham was born when ,terah was #acj years old1#ae is implicitly followed by ,mr4 ,clinton1 although he admits that 8all the authorities which have been quoted0 by him1 adhere to the ,scriptural number1 #gj years2 and he argues in favour of the former1 by conjecturing without a shadow of evidence1 that the ,samaritan text was altered in ,genesis xi4 #cb1 from #bje years to #ade1 in order that ,terah's 8death might be adapted to the supposed time of the ,call40 ,this time is distinctly marked in ,scripture1 and therefore requires 8no supposition0 at all4 ,it is plain1 from ,genesis xii4 #d1 that ,abraham was #ge years old1 when he obeyed the ,call2 and1 from ,genesis xi4 #bf1 that he was born when ,terah was #gj years old4 ,it is1 therefore1 justly inferred that ,terah was #ade years old1 at the time of the ,call2 but as he died before ,abraham left ,charran 7,acts vii4 #d71 then #ade years was also his age at his death1 as in the ,samaritan1 and not #bje1 as in the other two texts4 ,the inconsistency of the latter number1 however1 cannot by any means affect the chronology1 so long as the authenticity of the former numbers is maintained4 ,the addition of #fj years1 therefore1 to the ,antepaidogonian age of ,terah1 in order to preserve the consistency of the number #bje1 is an unwarrantable assumption on the part of ,usher and his followers1 and demonstrates that they have virtually altered the ,hebrew text in ,genesis xi4 #bf1 from #gj years to #acj1 in order that ,terah's age at the birth of ,abraham might be adapted to the supposed time of his death6 ,there is no doubt that both ,hales and ,clinton1 who follow human conjectures on this point1 are again in the wrong2 and1 that ,jackson1 ,russell and ,cuninghame1 who follow the plain statements of ,scripture1 are 8in the right40 ,in the preface to ,part ,,ii4 of the 8,fulness of the ,times10 p4 xv41 the author has placed the inconsistency of ,usher's scheme in such a clear light1 that further argument on the subject is needless2 the following is his unanswerable conclusion3--8the greatness of ,abraham's faith1 in believing that he should have a son at #ajj1 is every where spoken of in the ,scriptures0 as miraculous1 8while he himself1 on this scheme1 is procreated by his father at #acj60 ,the author has1 moreover1 shown in this work1 that 8the whole chronology of the ,seventy is arranged in various parallel series of ,astronomical time1 ,jubilees1 ,metonic cycles1 and the larger cycles of the universe20 and1 that these 8depend upon the exclusion of the #fj years added to ,terah's generation by ,usher2 for if that period be inserted1 they are all destroyed4 ,this1 then1 is complete evidence that the framer of the ,septuagint chronology1 did not consider the #fj years as any part of the chronology of the book of ,genesis1 which is utterly incredible1 had it then existed4 ,therefore1 it did not exist40 ,on the other hand1 he has shown that 8in the formation of the ,hebrew chronology1 the insertion of the #fj years was essential to the preservation of a ,jubilean character2 therefore1 since there was a time when0 this period was 8not a part of the chronology1 the unavoidable and necessary inference is1 that the ,greek1 and not the ,hebrew1 is the original chronology40 ,from the ,postdiluvian tables1 it appears that the birth of ,abraham took place1 according to the ,masorete text1 #bib years after the flood2 but1 according to ,usher's interpretation of it1 #ceb years4 ,the ,samaritan text gives #idb1 and the ,septuagint #ajgb years2 the latter number being that given by ,eusebius1 at the beginning of his ,chronicon1 translated by ,jerome1 as testified by ,scaliger in his 8,thesaurus ,temporum10 p4 #aj1 and referred to by ,usher1 in his 8,chronologia ,sacra10 cap4 vi4 p4 #ig2 although in some of the finest copies1 we have seen it absurdly printed #agbj years1 by an unaccountable transposition of the figures6 ,see the edition by ,h4 ,stephans1 in #aedb4 ,the following table exhibits the whole amount of the discrepancies of the three texts1 in the first two ages of the world3#af-- ,,table ,,vii4 ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,hebrew4 ,,usher4 ,,septuagint4 ,,samaritan4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,antediluvian ,age #afef #afef #bbfb #acjg ,postdiluvian ,age #cfg #dbg #aadg #ajag ,,first ,,two ,,ages #bjbc #bjhc #cdji #bcbd ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,difference ,,between ,,the ,,hebrew ,,and ,,septuagint ,,chronologies4 ,thus1 it appears that there is a difference of thirteen centuries and a-quarter between the ,hebrew-,usher and the ,septuagint chronologies1 at the epoch of the ,call of ,abraham1--a difference which is increased by another century and a-half1 in the remaining ages of the world up to the birth of ,christ1--making in all1 a difference of fourteen and three-quarters exactly1 or nearly fifteen centuries6 ,to account for this difference1 the advocates of the longer computation not only impugn1 as we have seen1 the accuracy of the ,hebrew text1 but adduce various important and conclusive arguments against the shorter computation1 in order to show the inconsistency of its statements4 ,mr4 ,clinton1 in citing these arguments1 chiefly from ,jackson and ,hales1 endeavours to rebut them1 and to defend the ,hebrew chronology1 especially in the first two ages of the world2 although he is forced to yield to the mass of evidence against it1 in the period of the ,judges4 #a4 ,argument against the shorter computation1 founded on the proportion between the ,antepaidogonian ,ages and ,whole ,lives of the ,patriarchs--,reasons for the enlargement of this ratio1 and the diminution of the length of human life4 ,the first argument1 which is1 that 8the shorter generations are repugnant to the course of nature10 is neither placed in a clear light1 nor fairly answered by ,mr4 ,clinton2 ,fast4 ,hell4 vol4 i4 p4 #bib4 ,although the extraordinary longevity of man both before and after the flood1 has no parallel in the subsequent history of the world1 and we are therefore deprived of a satisfactory means of comparison2 yet we perceive a suitable proportion in the ,greek numbers1 between the ,antepaidogonian ages and whole lives of the ,patriarchs in the first two periods1 which entirely fails in the ,hebrew numbers4 ,thus1 taking the averages of the six ,antepaidogonian ages which occasion the great discrepancy in the ,antediluvian period1 and the corresponding whole lives1 we find that the former is about one-fifth part of the latter in the ,septuagint1 and about one-ninth part in the ,hebrew4 ,if these ratios be applied to the present average duration of human life1 we find that men1 according to the former text1 would beget children at the age of fourteen years2 but1 according to the latter1 at the age of eight years6 ,again1 taking the averages of the six ,antepaidogonian ages which occasion the chief discrepancy in the ,postdiluvian period1 and the corresponding whole lives1 we find that the former is about one-third part of the latter in the ,septuagint1 and about one-eleventh part in the ,hebrew4 ,applying these ratios as before1 we find that men1 according to the former text1 would beget children at the age of twenty-three years2 but according to the latter1 at the age of seven years6 ,on the supposition1 therefore1 which we think not unreasonable1 that in these periods1 the development of the powers of the human frame was proportional to the length of human life1 it is manifest that there is a propriety and consistency in the ,greek numbers1 which are not only totally wanting in the ,hebrew1 but which render the idea of generation at the ages now to be found in that text1 utterly impossible4 ,it may be objected even to the ,greek numbers1 that the ratio in the ,antediluvian period is rather premature1 but it is not impossible2 and we see in the enlargement of the ratio1 and in the diminution of the length of life in the ,postdiluvian period1 according to the ,septuagint1 the wise arrangement of an overruling ,providence6 ,for1 the wickedness which led to the destruction of the old world1 appears to have had its origin in the premature and unlawful connections which were formed between 8the sons0 of the worshippers of the true ,god1 8who kept not their first estate0 or original principles1 and 8the daughters0 of those sensualists of the ,cainitish race1 who are1 with them1 8reserved in perpetual chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day60 ,in order1 therefore1 to prevent such a fearful superabundance of vice in future ages of the world1 we see that the duration of the life1 as well as the development of the natural powers of man1 was reduced to narrower limits4 #b4 ,argument founded on the regular succession of human generations--,anomalies and ,paradoxes of the ,hebrew text--,remark of ,eusebius--,objections of learned men unanswered4 ,the second argument1 which is1 that the shorter computation is inconsistent with the regular succession of human generations1 is rather too quickly passed over by ,mr4 ,clinton2 nor do we wonder at his haste1 for in our opinion1 this argument possesses very great weight1 and is very difficult to answer in a satisfactory manner4 ,in the ,postdiluvian age1 where he admits that it is more cogent1 there were1 according to the ,hebrew chronology1 no less than ten generations all alive on the earth at the same time1 contrary to the principles of providential government so often referred to in ,scripture1 and the following strange anomalies and paradoxes took place4 ,the last two ,antediluvian ,patriarchs were contemporary with all the ,postdiluvian2 and after having witnessed the destruction of the old world1 they were doomed to behold the violence of ,nimrod1 the rebellious1 the wicked project of the building of ,babel1 and the judgment of ,god in the confusion of tongues and the sudden dispersion of mankind4 ,noah also survived the deaths of ,peleg and ,nahor2 so that1 contrary to the express words of ,scripture1 the earth was divided in the days of ,noah instead of the days of ,peleg4 ,eusebius has even remarked that ,noah was the contemporary of ,abraham for fifty-eight years6 ,to avoid this obvious inconsistency was no doubt a strong reason for ,usher's adoption of the sixty years additional to ,terah's ,antepaidogonian age1 the ,hebrew chronology standing so much in need of this extra time at the point of its greatest poverty4 ,shem1 the ,antediluvian1 survived the deaths of all the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 excepting ,heber2 he was alive at the marriages of ,isaac1 ,ishmael and ,esau2 and1 having buried nine generations of his descendants1 including the ,father of the ,faithful1 witnessed the destruction of ,sodom1 and died without partaking of the ,covenant of ,circumcision6 ,terah1 the father of ,abraham1 was an idolater2 while ,noah1 the living witness of ,god's judgment on the old world1 and a preacher of righteousness1 and his son ,shem1 the heir of his father's blessing1--both ,terah's ancestors--were still alive6 ,the promise made to ,abraham1 that he should 8go to his fathers in peace10 and be 8buried in a good old age10 most distinctly implies that all those fathers1--the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1--were dead and buried before him2 but1 according to the ,masorete text1 ,shem1 the ,antediluvian1 and seven of the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 all his ancestors1 were alive at his death2 and the same ,antediluvian1 with two of the ,postdiluvians1 ,salah and ,heber1 even survived him6 ,but it is quite unnecessary to dwell on these paradoxes so contrary to the ordinary providence of ,god1 and to the whole tenor of holy writ4 ,enough has been adduced to show the inconsistency of the shorter computation1 and the difficult problems which its advocates have yet to solve1 in order to establish it on a secure foundation1 and to meet the unanswered objections of the host of learned and pious men in all ages1 who have1 either wholly or in part1 adopted or defended the ,septuagint chronology2 such as1 the early chronographers1 and historians down to ,syncellus1 the early ,christian ,fathers1 and in later times1 ,morinus1 ,j4 ,vossius1 ,pezron1 ,raleigh1 ,stillingfleet1 ,walton1 ,kennicott1 ,jackson1 ,hales1 ,horsley1 and ,russell4 ,this argument is ably enforced by ,mr4 ,cuninghame in the 8,essay0 to his 8,chart of ,sacred ,chronology0 pp4 #ag1 #ah1 the 8,discourse10 in his 8,dissertation on the ,apocalypse0 pp4 #ecc-ecf1 and his other ,chronological works4#ag #c4 ,argument founded on the inconsistency of the co-existence of idolatry and the worship of the true ,god1 in the same family1 and within a short period from the flood--,remarks on the building of ,babel--,mr4 ,clinton refuted--,mr4 ,cuninghame's argument from ,scripture--,the judgments of ,god forgotten4 ,the third argument is1 that the ,hebrew computation is inconsistent with the co-existence of idolatry and the worship of the true ,god1 in the same family1 and within so short a period from the flood4 ,this argument has been partly anticipated2 but it receives additional strength from the following considerations4 ,if the short account of the building of ,babel1 ,gen4 xii4 #a-i1 be critically examined1 there can be no doubt that this politico-religious project1 which was headed by ,nimrod1 the 8,great ,intolerant before the ,lord10 was the earliest attempt on record to establish the ,zabian system of idolatry4 ,for the arguments in favour of this opinion1 we must1 for brevity's sake1 refer to a work recently published1 alike remarkable for the novelty of its views and the ,scriptural simplicity of its style1 entitled the 8,religious ,history of ,man10 by ,mr4 ,d4 ,morison1 pp4 #aeg-afh4 ,mr4 ,clinton sees 8nothing wonderful0 in the fact that 8idolatry should have sprung up during the lives of ,noah and ,shem20 and he accounts for it on the principles of the fecundity of mankind and their dispersion at the confusion of tongues4 ,it is very strange1 however1 that ,terah1 who is mentioned in ,joshua xxiv4 #b1 as the only idolater among the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 should have dared to follow the practices of the ,heathen1 while all his pious ancestors were yet alive6 ,and1 that1 as ,mr4 ,cuninghame justly remarks1 8the ,scriptures should tell us nothing0 of the matter1 seeing that the sacred historians invariably record such awful apostacies in the families of the righteous1 as a warning to all future generations4 ,idolatry1 in fact1 sprang up in the family of ,ham1 in the third generation2 but1 not in that of ,shem1 till the ninth2 shewing that the example and the memory of pious ancestry had the effect of so long retarding the influence of surrounding evil among their descendants4 ,the whole history of the period1 indeed1 indicates that ages not a few1 had elapsed between the flood and the ,call of ,abraham2 and1 that during that interval1 the remembrance of the judgment of the old world was almost obliterated1 the worship of the true ,god virtually superseded1 and the memory of the early ,patriarchs practically forgotten4 ,moreover1 the remarkable interposition of ,providence in the confusion of tongues and the dispersion of mankind1 calculated so deeply to renew in the minds of men the recollection of former judgments1 and to put a stop to farther progress in idolatry1 appears in the lapse of time to have shared the common oblivion1 and to have failed in producing that striking impression which was sure to be felt among contemporaries and their immediate successors4 #d4 ,argument founded on the inconsistency of the accounts of ,sacred and ,profane ,history--,remark of ,sir ,walter ,raleigh--,sir ,isaac ,newton's objection refuted--,epoch of the ,foundation of the kingdom of ,egypt4 ,the fourth argument is1 that the shorter computation is inconsistent with the credible accounts of profane history1 and the existence of so many populous kingdoms and empires in the days of ,abraham4 ,the insuperable difficulties in reconciling the chronology of sacred and profane history1 which have perpetually puzzled modern historians1 are in a great measure removed by the longer computation4 ,the often-cited passage of ,raleigh1#ah which contains his cutting remark on the danger of 8paring the times too near the quick10 lest thereby 8the reputation of the whole story might perchance bleed10 has1 in fact1 never been fairly answered on the principles of the ,hebrew chronology4 ,the history of the battle of the 8four kings against five10 in ,genesis xiv41 implies a very great degree of populousness and civilization in a single region1 and more than can be admitted on the shorter computation2 nor can ,sir ,isaac ,newton's answer to this objection be considered as decisive1 in which he implies that the numbers of the allied armies must have been small1 because they were overcome by ,abraham with a very small force2 for1 the ,scriptures inform us that it was 8the ,most ,high ,god that delivered his enemies into his hand10 and that it is ,his province 8to save by many or by few40 ,the account of ,egypt1 at the descent of ,abraham1 in ,genesis xii4 #aj-bj1 indicates that it was then an ancient1 populous1 and long-established kingdom2 and the profane records of its history1 though mingled with much that is fabulous1 contain well-attested facts which reach to a period far beyond that assigned by the ,hebrew text4 ,in an excellent article1 entitled 8,annotations ,gologiques la ,gense10 vol4 iii4 of the 8,cours ,complet10 it is shewn1 by a careful and critical analysis of the historical notices of ,egypt1 in ,manetho1 ,herodotus1 ,diodorus1 ,artapan1 ,josephus1 ,eratosthenes1 ,pliny1 the author of the ,old ,chronicle1 and ,syncellus1 that its various dynasties were not consecutive but collateral2 and1 from the unsuspected agreement of the reigns of different kings1 it appears that 8the epoch ,b4,c4 #bijj10 or ,a4,m4 #begi1 8may1 in fact1 be considered as that of the foundation of the kingdom of ,egypt40 ,this epoch1 according to the ,septuagint1 corresponds to the patriarchate of the ,junior ,cainan1 about #cjj years after the birth of ,mizraim1 and about fifty years after that of ,salah2--now1 it is universally admitted that ,egypt or ,mizraim 7,genesis x4 #f7 was one of the first kingdoms founded after the flood4 ,according to the ,hebrew1 however1 the same epoch corresponds to the patriarchate of the ,senior ,cainan1 upwards of #ejj years before the flood1 and long before ,mizraim was in existence6 #e4 ,arguments founded on the deficiency of the numbers of mankind--,epoch of the occupation of ,babylon by the ,medes--,calculation of the numbers of mankind on the ,eulerian ratio--,mr4 ,clinton refuted4 ,as to the argument founded on the 8numbers of mankind10 ,mr4 ,clinton has proved1 ,fast4 ,hell41 vol4 i4 p4 #bhb1 that an army of ,medes occupied ,babylon about ,b4,c4 #bbcc1 that is1 according to the ,hebrew-,usher computation1 #aae years1 and according to his own1 partially interpolated from the ,septuagint1 about #bej years after the flood1--when1 as he says1 8the population of the earth would amount to many millions20 and yet1 in the same page1 he remarks1 it is not likely that 8#aja years0 after that event1 the population 8would exceed #ej1jjj persons1 and this number it would certainly have reached within #afj years of the flood60 ,now1 even on the ,eulerian ratio1 cited from ,malthus1 this number would increase only to about #f millions1#ai in his interval of ninety years1--which is far from 8many millions20 while1 in the ,usherian interval1 on his own showing1 it would have barely reached the former number6 ,such are only a few of the difficulties attending the shorter computation1 and such some of the shifts to which its abettors and followers are driven for its support4 ,the simple and consistent chronology of the ,septuagint places the above mentioned event at the distance of nearly #ajjj years after the flood1 and rather less than a century previous to the birth of ,abraham2 so that in his days the world had had sufficient time to reach a state of populousness and civilization corresponding to the history of the period1 as recorded both by sacred and profane authors4 #f4 ,argument founded on the alteration of the ,hebrew text by the ,jews--,testimony of the early ,fathers on this point--,mr4 ,clinton's admission as to the prophecies--,his refutation as to the chronology--,motives of the ,jews for shortening the genealogies4 ,mr4 ,clinton states that 8,jackson and ,hales impute great alterations in the ,hebrew copies0 of the ,scriptures1 8to the ,jews of the second century40 ,it would have been more correct to have said that ,irenus1 ,justin ,martyr1 ,epiphanius1 ,ephrem ,syrus1 ,eusebius1 ,syncellus1 and ,abulfarajius imputed such alterations to the ,jews1 not only in the passages which applied to ,christ1--which he considers 8very probable10--but also in the numbers relating to the ,ante and ,post ,diluvian genealogies2 because the testimonies of these ancient authors are either cited or referred to by the former4 ,mr4 ,clinton adds1 that 8it is difficult to imagine what adequate motive the ,jews could have had for shortening the genealogies40 ,not more difficult1 in our opinion1 than to imagine what adequate motive the ,jews could have had for shortening the life of ,jesus ,christ6 ,a difficulty1 however1 8to imagine an adequate motive0 for any transaction1 is no proof that it did not take place4 ,the ,jews did not attempt 8to shorten the genealogies10 that is1 to corrupt the chronology of the ,scriptures1 till all the witnesses were dead who knew ,jesus1 and who had 8companied with them that were witnesses of his resurrection60 ,but when they found afterwards that the ,christians constantly proved out of the ,septuagint1 that ,jesus was the ,messiah1 they had then a sufficient motive for 8shortening the genealogies10 if they could make it appear1 from the ,hebrew text1 that our ,lord had come about fifteen centuries earlier than the time fixed by tradition2 and that1 as the chronology of that text did not agree with the chronology of the ,septuagint1 the epoch of the true ,messiah's advent had not yet arrived6 ,they have accordingly continued to assert1 in contradiction even to their own ,scriptures1 and up to the present day1 that ,jesus of ,nazareth was not their ,messiah6 #g4 ,motives ascribed to the ,seventy ,interpreters for enlarging the chronology--,pretensions of the ,chaldeans and ,egyptians to a remote antiquity--,insufficiency of the scheme adopted by the ,interpreters--,self-refutation of ,mr4 ,clinton's hypothesis4 ,mr4 ,clinton finally asserts that 8the first translators of the ,hebrew ,scriptures had a very obvious motive for enlarging the chronology10 because the 8,chaldeans and ,egyptians laid claim to a remote antiquity60 ,the wished for inference is1 that the ,jewish translators1 from a very natural desire not to be behind their neighbours in these pretensions1 went upon an opposite tack1 and 8lengthened the genealogies60 ,this statement1 for argument it cannot be called1 proves a great deal too much2 because the scheme which they adopted1 falls immensely short of the end proposed4 ,we have seen that the difference between the ,hebrew and ,septuagint chronologies1 is only about fifteen centuries6 ,this difference was1 indeed1 quite sufficient for the purpose of the ,jews1 in denying the advent of the true ,messiah2 but1 it was wholly insufficient1 nay1 utterly useless1 for the purpose of coping with the pretensions of 8the ,chaldeans and ,egyptians to a remote antiquity40 ,for1 it appears1 from the testimony of ,cicero1 ,diodorus1 and others1 that ,berosus claimed for the first ,chaldean kings1 an antiquity of no less than #dgj1jjj years6 ,and1 from the fragments of ,manetho and the ,old ,chronicle1 preserved by ,syncellus1 that for the first ,egyptian kings1 an antiquity is claimed1 of #cf1ebe years6 ,but1 what are fifty-five centuries of antiquity1 to #cfe centuries1 or to #d1gjj centuries8 ,to add fifteen centuries was to add nothing6 ,the ,jews should have added #aejj or #aejjj centuries1 in order to meet the exigency of their 8obvious motive60 ,the argument1 therefore1 founded on the supposition that the ,seventy ,interpreters enlarged the chronology of the ,scriptures1 in order to place the claims of the ,jews to 8a remote antiquity10 on a par with those of the ,chaldeans and ,egyptians1 is so very absurd1 that it completely refutes itself3#bj ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,third ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,table ,,viii4 ,patriarchal ,eras and ,intervals from ,usher--,table ,,ix4 ,extent of the first ,three ,ages of the ,world--,date of the ,exodus of ,israel from ,egypt4 ,the extent of the ,third1 or ,patriarchal age1 is ascertained from the text of ,exodus xii4 #dj and #da4 ,that this passage originally stood in the ,hebrew as it now stands in the other two texts1 is evident from ,galatians iii4 #ag2 and as all commentators and chronologers are now agreed that the commencement of the #dcj years was reckoned from the date of the ,call1 or the year following1 it is unnecessary to revive former disputes on this point4 ,the following table1 partly from ,usher1#ba who distinctly enumerates all the texts of ,scripture on which their determination depends1 exhibits the intervals1 between the ,patriarchal eras of this period1 and the corresponding years of the world1 according to the ,hebrew and ,septuagint computations3-- ,,table ,,viii4 ,,patriarchal ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,eras4 ,intervals4 ,a4,m4 ,intervals4 ,a4,m4 ,from the ,call #j #bjhc #j #cdji ,birth of ,isaac #be #bajh #be #cdcd ,birth of ,jacob #fj #bafh #fj #cdid ,the ,eisodus #acj #bbih #acj #cfbd ,death of ,joseph #ga #bcfi #ga #cfie ,birth of ,moses #fd #bdcc #fd #cgei ,to the ,exodus #hj #beac #hj #chci -------- -------- ,,third ,,age #dcj years4 #dcj years4 ,in the above and following tables we omit the ,samaritan computation1 and adopt the ,hebrew as interpreted by ,usher1 as the question of the true chronology in modern times is considered to lie between the latter and the ,septuagint4 ,the next table exhibits1 according to these two systems1 the extent of the first three ages of the world4 ,,table ,,ix4 ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,years4 ,years4 ,first two ,ages #bjhc #cdji ,third ,age #dcj #dcj -------- -------- ,,first ,,three ,,ages #beac #chci ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 8,fulness of the ,times10 p4 #cf1 gives an ingenious explanation of 8the sojourning of the children of ,israel in ,egypt10 and shows that1 strictly speaking1 the period of #dcj years should be reckoned from the date of ,abraham's descent into that land1 after his arrival in ,canaan1 or one year later than the date of the ,call4 ,hence1 the ,exodus took place in ,a4,m4 #chdj1 according to the computation of the ,septuagint4#bb ,,chapter ,v4 ,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,fourth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,palpable ,forgery of this period in #a ,kings vi4 #a4--,table ,x4 ,critarchal ,eras and ,intervals1 from ,usher and ,cuninghame--,object of ,usher in determining this period--,testimony of ,paul and the ,book of ,judges as to its true extent--,testimony of ,origen--,table ,,xi4 ,extent of the first four ages of the world--,verification of the true extent of the fourth age by ,chronographers--,agreement on this point between ,mr4 ,clinton and ,mr4 ,cuninghame4 ,the extent of the ,fourth1 or ,critarchal age1 is ascertained from the books of ,joshua1 ,judges1 ,samuel and ,kings1 and confirmed by ,acts iii4 #ag-bb4 ,many disputes have arisen as to the true length of this period1 in consequence of the interpolation of a passage in #a ,kings vi4 #a1--;both in the ,hebrew and ,septuagint1--which is now very generally admitted to be a palpable forgery6 ,the following table1 partly from ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 8,synopsis of ,chronology10 p4 #ae1 and partly from ,usher1 8,chronologia ,sacra10 p4 #bjc1 both of whom distinctly enumerate all the texts of ,scripture on which their determination depends1 exhibits the intervals of the ,critarchal eras1 and the corresponding years of the world1 according to the two systems3-- ,,table ,x4 ,,critarchal ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,eras4 ,intervals4 ,a4,m4 ,intervals4 ,a4,m4 ,from the ,exodus #j #beac #j #chdj ,passage of ,jordan #dj #beec #dj #chhj ,division of the #f #beei #g #chhg ,land #ast ,,servitude #j #bh #ciae ,critarchate of #dj #beii #dj #ciee ,othniel #bnd ,,servitude #j #ah #cigc ,cr4 of ,ehud and #hj #bfgi #hj #djec ,shamgar #crd ,,servitude #j #bj #djgc ,cr4 of ,deborah and #dj #bgai #dj #daac ,barak #dth ,,servitude #j #g #dabj ,critarchate of 99#di #bgfi 99#dj #dafj ,gideon ,of ,abimelech1 ,tolah #dh #bhag #dh #dbjh and ,jair #eth ,,servitude #j #ah #dbbf ,critarchate of #f #bhbc #f #dbcb ,jephthah ,of ,ibzan1 ,elon and #be #bhdh #be #dbeg ,abdon #fth ,,servitude #j #dj #dbig 7,samson7 ,critarchate of ,eli #dj #bhhh #dj #dccg #gth ,,servitude #j #bj #dceg ,critarchate of 99#ba #biji 99#ab #dcfi ,samuel ,reign of ,saul #dj #bidi #dj #ddji ,reign of ,david #dj #bihi #dj #dddi ,to the ,foundation of ,solomon's #c #biib #c #ddeb ,temple -------- -------- ,,fourth ,,age #dgi years4 #fab years4 ,the object of ,usher in determining the ,hebrew computation of this period1 as given above1 was evidently to square or fashion the intervals so that their sum should not exceed the interpolated period of #dhj years6 ,this he has effected by the omission of the intervals of all the ,,servitudes1 which are expressly recorded in ,scripture1 the interpolation of #i years between the critarchates of ,gideon and ,abimelech1 and the addition of nine years to the critarchate of ,samuel4 ,the remark1 therefore1 of ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in treating of the distinguishing marks of the true and false systems of chronology1 8,fulness of the ,times10 p4 #ada1 is no less just than severe3--8it is plain that had ,usher given to this part of his chronology the title of ,an attempt to pervert the testimony of the ,book of ,judges1 it would have been a just description of it60 ,moreover1 ,paul1 when he addressed the ,jews at ,antioch in ,pisidia1 with the book of the ,law and the ,prophets in his hand1 must have been perfectly well acquainted with the period in question1 and his summary of the intervals completely confirms the reckoning of the ,septuagint1 which was followed by all the ancient chronographers1 notwithstanding the interpolated passage1 which is manifestly the work of a later age4 ,in this summary1 he marks out the intervals of 8forty years in the wilderness10 of the judges 8about #dej years0 from the division of the land1 8until ,samuel the prophet10 and of the reign of ,saul 8forty years10--the amount of which is #ecj years4 ,if to this be added the intervals of the five years' war 7,joshua xiv4 #aj71 of the two years for the completion of the conquest of ,canaan and the division of the land1 of the twenty years' abode of the ark at ,kirjathjearim1 of twelve years for the critarchate of ,samuel1 of the forty years' reign of ,david1 and of the first three years of ,solomon's reign1 making in all eighty-two years1--the whole amount is exactly #fab years4 ,the only one of these intervals not now mentioned in ,scripture1 is the critarchate of ,samuel at ,mizpeh1 which has fortunately been preserved by ,josephus and ,theophilus1 both of whom1 without doubt1 had more perfect copies of the ,hebrew and ,septuagint texts1 and who state its length at twelve years4 ,independently1 however1 of this interval1 the ,book of ,judges clearly establishes the true period as far as #fjj years1 and completely overthrows the forged period of #dhj years4 ,it is worthy also of remark1 that ,origen cites the immediate context of the interpolated passage1 giving the sentences both before and after it1 but making no mention whatever of the number itself2#bc which clearly shows that it was not in the ,hebrew text in his time4 ,the following table exhibits1 according to the two systems1 the extent of the first four ages of the world3-- ,,table ,,xi4 ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,years4 ,years4 ,first three ,ages #beac #chdj ,fourth ,age #dgi #fab -------- -------- ,,first ,,four ,,ages #biib #ddeb ,in the learned works of ,russell1 ,clinton1 and ,cuninghame1 will be found numerous and important verifications of the true extent of the fourth period1 from different authors1 ancient and modern1 of which the following are the most important4 ,josephus makes it #fab years in two different places of his works1 and #eib in another1 where he omits the #gth ,servitude2--,dr4 ,russell1 #eib years1 following ,josephus in the latter number2--,theophilus1 #fab years1 some of his intervals being inaccurate1 but the errors balancing each other2--,eusebius1 #fac years in his 8,preparatio10 and #fjj in his 8,chronicon10 where he omits the critarchate of ,samuel2--,jackson1 #egi years1 by the omission of both2 and ,hales1 #fba years1 by the interpolation of an interregnum of ten years2--lastly1 ,mr4 ,clinton1 #fab years1 his intervals being very nearly the same as those of ,mr4 ,cuninghame4 ,thus1 by the double testimony of ,scripture1 and by the admission of the ablest defender of the ,hebrew verity in modern times1 it is manifest that the forged period of #dhj years current1 or #dgi complete1 falls short of the truth by #acc years6 ,hence1 ,mr4 ,clinton places the creation of the world in the year ,b4 ,c4 #dach1 instead of the ,usherian year ,b4 ,c4 #djjd4bd ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,fifth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,table ,,xii4 ,monarchal ,eras and ,intervals1 from ,usher and ,cuninghame--,correction of the mistakes of chronologers as to the true extent of this period1 by ,mr4 ,cuninghame--,table ,,xiii4 ,extent of the first five ages of the ,world--,confirmation of the true extent of the fifth age from sacred history and prophecy4 ,the extent of the ,fifth1 or ,monarchal ,age1 is ascertained from the ,books of ,kings and ,chronicles1 and confirmed by chronological notices of the ,prophets4 ,the difference between the ,hebrew and ,septuagint chronologies in this period1 amount only to about fifteen years1 which is chiefly owing to an interregnum between the reigns of ,amaziah and ,uzziah not acknowledged by ,usher and his followers4 ,the following table1 from ,usher's 8,chronologia10 pp4 #b-bc1 and ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,synopsis10 p4 #gc1 where the texts of ,scripture containing them are distinctly enumerated1 exhibits the intervals of the ,monarchal ,eras1 and the corresponding years of the world1 according to both systems3-- ,,table ,,xii4 ,,monarchal ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,eras4 ,intervals4 ,a4,m4 ,intervals4 ,a4,m4 ,from the ,foundation of #j #biib #j #ddeb ,solomon's ,temple ,death of ,solomon #cg #cjbi #cg #ddhi ,reign of ,rehoboam #ag #cjdf #ag #dejf ,abijah #c #cjdi #c #deji ,asa #da #cjij #da #deej ,jehoshaphat #be #caae #be #dege ,jehoram 99#d #caai 99#f #deha ,ahaziah #a #cabj #a #dehb ,athaliah #f #cabf #f #dehh ,jehoash 99#ci #cafe 99#dj #dfbh ,amaziah #bi #caid #bi #dfeg ,interregnum 99#j 99#ab #dffi ,reign of ,uzziah #eb #cbdf #eb #dgba ,jotham #af #cbfb #af #dgcg ,ahaz 99#ae #cbgg 99#af #dgec ,hezekiah #bi #ccjf #bi #dghb ,manasseh #ee #ccfa #ee #dhcg ,amon #b #ccfc #b #dhci ,josiah #ca #ccid #ca #dhgj ,jehoahaz1 ,jehoiakim1 #aa #cdje #aa #dhha and ,jehoiachin ,to the ,destruction of 99#aa #cdaf 99#aj #dhia ,solomon's ,temple -------- -------- ,,fifth ,,age #dbd years4 #dci years4 ,the discrepancies in the different columns of this table1 have been very carefully and laboriously investigated by ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in his 8,chronology of ,israel10 pp4 #ah-ci1 #hg1 #hh1 #aae and #aaf2 and in his 8,fulness of the ,times10 part i4 pp4 #aic-aig1 and part ii4 pp4 #cb-di1 and #ef-fj1 where the errors of ,usher1 ,lightfoot1 ,hales1 ,russell and ,clinton1 and of the 8,seder ,olam ,rabba10#be are clearly pointed out and refuted on ,scripture authority2 and1 by the correction of obvious mistakes of two or three current years in their computation1 the testimonies of ,josephus1 ,clemens1 ,theophilus1 and ,eusebius in favour of the true chronology1 are satisfactorily established4 ,by excluding the interregnum1 and reckoning the years of each reign complete1 ,dr4 ,russell and ,mr4 ,clinton1 both estimate the length of this period at #dcj years2 the latter1 however1 in his tabular view1 p4 #cbi1 vol4 i41 ultimately reduces this number from #dcj current1 to #dbf complete years1 by reckoning from ,rehoboam to ,zedekiah #chi years4 ,jackson reckons this period at #dbh1 and ,hales at #dda years4 ,the true extent of the fifth age being determined at #dci years1 the following table exhibits according to the two systems1 the extent of the first five ages of the world3-- ,,table ,,xiii4 ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,years4 ,years4 ,first four ,ages #biib #ddeb ,fifth ,age #dbd #dci -------- -------- ,,first ,,five ,,ages #cdaf #dhia ,the true extent of the fifth age is strongly confirmed by ,ezekiel iv4 #a-h1 where1 in the fifth year of ,jehoiachin's captivity1 or in ,a4 ,m4 #dhhe1 the prophet is commanded to predict in a striking manner the siege of ,jerusalem1 and to lie on his left side #cij days1 according to the number of the years of the iniquity of the house of ,israel2 and1 on his right side forty days1 according to the number of the years of the iniquity of the house of ,judah2 ,,each ,,day ,,for ,a ,,year4 ,the sum of these prophetic days1 namely #dcj1 is therefore1 the whole number of the years of the iniquity of ,israel and ,judah4 ,this number of years singularly coincides with that of the period appointed for the 8sojourning of the fathers and children of ,israel10 and has no doubt a very extensive prophetic signification4 ,but the period of #cij years more particularly points at some great general defection1 when the iniquity of ,israel was particularly prominent4 ,this iniquity in fact1 rose to its highest pitch1 when the ,ten ,tribes separated themselves from the house of ,judah1 and took to the worship of the golden calves4 ,now1 it appears from #b ,chronicles xi4 #ac-ag1 that the general defection from the worship of the true ,god1 both in ,israel and ,judah1 did not take place till three years after the accession of ,rehoboam to the throne of ,david1 and the election of ,jeroboam to the kingdom of ,israel4 ,for a period1 therefore1 of forty years after the foundation of the ,temple1 the iniquity of the ,twelve ,tribes was restrained1 and an apparent desire to worship ,god aright1 prevented the full manifestation of their idolatrous propensities4 ,after this1 however1 8,rehoboam forsook the law of the ,lord1 and all ,israel with him10 7#b ,chron4 xii4 #a72 and by this time the subjects of ,jeroboam had become more accustomed to the 8new gods that came newly up0 at his accession1 and had begun to think that it was indeed 8too much for them to go up to ,jerusalem0 to worship2 and accordingly1 they went to worship a golden calf1 8even unto ,dan10 7#a ,kings xii4 #cj74 ,if from this epoch1 ,a4 ,m4 #ddia1 therefore1 the period of #cij years be computed1 it will terminate in the first year of the captivity of ,jehoiachin1 ,a4 ,m4 #dhha2 and1 if the whole period of #dcj years be computed from the epoch of the completion of the ,temple1 ,a4 ,m4 #ddei1 it will terminate in the ninth year of ,zedekiah's reign1 ,a4 ,m4 #dhhi1 when the holy city was besieged by ,nebuchadnezzar2 and when1 according to ,ezekiel's prophecy1 8he and all his host came against ,jerusalem1 and pitched against it1 and built forts against it round about10 7#b ,kings xxv4 #a74 ,moreover1 in two years after this epoch1 in ,a4 ,m4 #dhia1 and when the #dci years from the ,foundation of the ,temple in ,a4 ,m4 #ddeb1 were completed1 the 8city was broken up10 the 8walls were broken down10 and the ,temple was 8burned with fire60 7#b ,kings xxv4 #a-aj74 ,thus1 the true extent of the fifth age is established by ,sacred ,history1 and confirmed by prophecy4 ,on this subject1 see ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,synopsis10 p4 #dg1 and 8,fulness of the ,times10 p4 #aie4bf ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,extent ,,of ,,the ,,sixth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #a4 ,table ,,xiv4 ,hierarchal ,eras and ,intervals1 from ,usher and ,cuninghame--,determination of the ,intervals from ,scripture--,period of the ,seventy years ,captivity--,period of the ,seventy prophetic weeks of ,daniel--,table ,,xv4 ,date of the ,crucifixion determined--,truth of the ,ancient ,tradition respecting the ,first ,advent of the ,messiah demonstrated4 ,the extent of the ,sixth1 or ,hierarchal age1 is ascertained from chronological notices interspersed in the ,historical and ,prophetical ,books of ,scripture1 and confirmed by the ,astronomical ,canon of ,ptolemy4#bg ,the difference between the ,hebrew and ,septuagint chronologies in this period1 amounts only to two years1 its length1 according to ,usher's 8,chronologia10 p4 #dd1 being #ehc years1 and1 according to the following table1 #ehe years4 ,this table1 in which we have taken the ,hebrew dates and intervals from ,usher's 8,annals10 because they are wanting in the ,chronologia1 exhibits only the ,scriptural intervals of the ,hierarchal eras1 and the corresponding years of the world1 according to both systems3-- ,,table ,,xiv4 ,,hierarchal ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,eras4 ,intervals4 ,a4,m4 ,intervals4 ,a4,m4 ,from the ,destruction of #j #cdaf #j #dhia ,solomon's ,temple ,the ,edict of ,cyrus #eb #cdfh #eb #didc ,the ,commission of 99#fi #cecg 99#gh #ejba ,ezra ,the ,commission of #ac #ceej #ac #ejcd ,nehemiah ,the ,return of #ab #cefb #ab #ejdf ,nehemiah ,to the ,birth of 99#dcg #ciii 99#dcj #edgf ,christ -------- -------- ,,the ,,sixth ,,age #ehc years4 #ehe years4 ,the first interval in this table is determined from the following texts3--,jeremiah xxv4 #ab1 and xxix4 #aj2 #b ,kings xxiv4 #a1 and xxv4 #b2 #b ,chron4 xxxvi4 #ba2 and ,daniel ix4 #b2 from these1 it appears that the seventy years' captivity in ,babylon commenced in the fourth year of ,jehoiakim1 and the first of ,nebuchadnezzar2 and1 that it preceded the destruction of the ,temple by eighteen years4 ,consequently1 it terminated exactly fifty-two years after that epoch1 namely1 in the first year of ,cyrus1 when1 by his permission1 the ,jews 8went up out of the ,captivity10 in ,a4,m4 #didc4 ,the second interval is determined in the following manner3--from ,zechariah vii4 #e1 it appears that in the fourth year of ,darius1 seventy years had elapsed from the destruction of the ,temple2 consequently1 eighteen years must have elapsed from the first of ,cyrus4 ,this computation agrees with that of ,ptolemy's ,canon1 which gives seven years to ,cyrus1 and eight to ,cambyses1 or ,ahasuerus1 making1 with the three complete years of ,darius1 the same amount4 ,again1 we find1 from ,ezra vii4 #h1 that in the seventh year of ,artaxerxes1 ,a4 ,m4 #ejba1 ,ezra received a commandment from that king1 to establish the ,jews in their own land1 and to beautify the ,second ,temple4 ,now1 ,ptolemy's ,canon gives thirty-three years for the rest of ,darius's reign1 and twenty-one for that of ,xerxes1 making1 with the six complete years of ,artaxerxes1 the amount of sixty years2 consequently1 the whole interval1 from the first of ,cyrus to the seventh of ,artaxerxes1 is seventy-eight years4 ,that the epoch of ,ezra's commission is the commencement of the prophetic period of seventy weeks1 or #dij years1 is evident from ,daniel ix4 #bd-bg4 ,hitherto1 the ,jews had been hindered in the building of the city and temple2 the latter was indeed built and dedicated2 but the walls of the city were still in ruins1 and the inhabitants were exposed to the insults and inroads of their enemies6 ,now1 by the liberal decree of ,artaxerxes1 ,ezra was furnished with money and means to forward the work at ,jerusalem2 and their enemies were not only silenced1 but compelled to assist in carrying the king's order into execution4 ,this was1 therefore1 the epoch of 8the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build ,jerusalem10 and the beginning of the period 8determined upon the people and the holy city10 until the time1 when 8the ,messiah1 the ,prince10 should 8be cut off1 but not for himself20 when 8the transgression should be finished or consummated0 in his crucifixion2 and1 when 8reconciliation0 should be made 8for iniquity10 by his death and resurrection4 ,the third and fourth intervals in the table are clearly pointed out in ,nehemiah ii4 #a2 v4 #ad2 and xiii4 #f2 the date1 indeed1 recorded in the latter text1 being the last note of time to be found in the present ,hebrew text4 ,at this period1 or very soon afterwards 7according to ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in ,a4,m4 #ejee71bh the ,old ,testament ,canon was closed by the prophecy of ,malachi1 and a long night of darkness reigned1 8until at length the ,day-spring from on high0 visited the world4 ,thus we have proved1 from ,scripture evidence alone1 that at the date of ,ezra's commission1 which was upwards of #ejjj years from ,creation1 and even before that period1 the ,jews were in possession of a prophecy extending nearly #ejj years into futurity1 and pointing to the ,advent of a mighty ,saviour who should restore all things1 and 8bring in everlasting righteousness40 ,the date of the passion of ,christ is fixed and determined as in the following table3-- ,,table ,,xv4 ,the ,date of ,ezra's ,commission ,a4,m4 #ejba ,the period of seventy weeks1 or #dij years #dij -------- ,,the ,,date ,,of ,,the ,,crucifixion1 ,a4,m4 #eeaa ,hence1 it is clearly demonstrated that the general belief among all nations1 that the ,messiah should appear in the middle of the ,sixth ,millenary from ,creation1 had its real origin in a knowledge of the true chronology of the sacred ,scriptures6 ,in arriving at this conclusion1 we have been obliged1 in order to establish the exact lengths of the ,critarchal and ,hierarchal ages1 to borrow twelve years from the writings of the ancient chronographers1 and seventy-eight from the canon of ,ptolemy1 amounting only to ninety years in all1--a period which may be considered as almost evanescent in the long range of #eejj years4 ,probably the ,scriptures originally contained notices even of these intervals1 and in the course of ages1 they may have been either lost1 through the negligence of transcribers1 or omitted through the wilfulness of enemies to the truth4 #b4 ,determination of the ,epoch of the ,birth of ,christ--,labours of ,mr4 ,cuninghame on this point--,coincidence of the extent of the period of ,patriarchal pilgrimage with that of ,hierarchal ,bondage--,table ,,xvi4 ,extent of the ,six ,ages of the ,world--,difference between the true and vulgar dates of the ,nativity--,mr4 ,cuninghame's dates of the ,nativity and ,public ,ministry of ,christ1 deduced from the chronology of the ,septuagint4 ,the determination of the dates of the ,nativity and ,passion of our ,lord1 is a question of considerable difficulty1 and of great importance in the true system of chronology2 but much has been written upon it to very little purpose4 ,we agree1 however1 with ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in the conclusion to which he has arrived1 after a very laborious and complete investigation1 in his 8,fulness of the ,times10 part i4 pp4 #fj-ajg1 and part ii4 pp4 #a-bg1 and in his 8,season of the ,end10 pp4 #gc-ij1 where he refutes the opinions of ,newton1 ,hales1 ,gresswell and others1 and demonstrates that the ,passion of ,christ took place in the thirty-fifth year of his age1 that is1 according to the vulgar reckoning in ,a4 ,d4 #cc3 and1 that consequently1 the true date of his ,nativity was ,b4 ,c4 #c4 ,the ,scriptural evidence for this conclusion recommends itself to the mind1 both by its simplicity and sufficiency4 ,it appears from ,luke iii4 #bc1 that ,christ was baptized when he was thirty years of age2 and from ,luke iv4 #af-bd1 that soon after that period1 he began his public ministry4 ,moreover1 from the whole of the ,gospel history1 particularly that of ,john1 it appears that he was present at four1 if not five1 public celebrations of the ,passover2 and consequently1 that his thirty-fifth year was coincident with the date of the ,crucifixion4 ,hence1 it clearly follows1 that the epoch of the birth of ,christ was coincident with the #deeth year of the prophetic period of seventy weeks1 this being the difference between #ce and #dij years4 ,again1 the intervals of thirteen years between the commissions of ,ezra and ,nehemiah1 and of twelve between that of the latter and his return to the court of ,artaxerxes1--amounting to twenty-five years in all1--being deducted from the #dee years1 gives the last interval of #dcj years to the ,nativity4 ,thus1 we perceive a singular coincidence in the period of the pilgrimage and afflictions of the ,hebrews in ,canaan and ,egypt1 till the time of ,moses2 and that of the persecution and sufferings of the ,jews in ,syria and ,egypt1 till the ,advent of the ,messiah6 ,the following table exhibits1 according to the two systems1 the extent of the six ages of the world3-- ,,table ,,xvi4 ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,years4 ,years4 ,first ,five ,ages #cdaf #dhia ,sixth ,age #ehc #ehe -------- -------- ,,the ,,six ,,ages #ciii #edgf ,usher states in his 8,chronologia ,sacra10 p4 #de1 that the true period from ,creation to the ,birth of ,christ1 is #ciii years1 two months1 four days1 and six hours2 but1 according to the vulgar reckoning #djjc years1 two months1 eleven days1 and six hours6 ,hence1 according to his computation1 the true date of the ,nativity in current years is ,a4,m4 #djjj1 and the vulgar date ,a4,m4 #djjd4 ,it is indeed admitted by all chronologers that an error of two or three years was committed by ,dionysius ,exiguus1 who first introduced the ,christian era1 in ,a4,d4 #ecb2 and1 by ,bede1 who followed him1 in ,a4,d4 #gbj4 ,accordingly1 ,mr4 ,cuninghame very properly places the commencement of the vulgar era in ,a4,m4 #edgh2 and that of the ,public ,ministry of ,christ1 in ,a4,m4 #eejh1 which was in fact the true period of his appearance to the world6 ,in the whole of this interesting inquiry1 now approaching a close1 we must candidly acknowledge the invaluable assistance we have received from the learned and original works of ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 which have been1 as it were1 our guide through the labyrinth of chronological difficulties1 till we have at last arrived at the open field of well-known ,history4 ,,section ,,ii4 ,,confirmation ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,epochs4 ,the epochs of the ,nativity and ,epiphany of ,christ1 determined in the preceding ,section1 receive very strong confirmation from the histories and chronicons of ancient writers both sacred and profane1 from the writings of the early ,fathers1 and from the prophetic arrangement of 8the ,times and the ,seasons0 by the ,great 1 or ,supreme 8,disposer0 of all human events4 ,it is plain1 however1 that a multiplicity of views both of the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint chronology may be taken1 according as more or fewer of the errors1 which we have pointed out in the computation of the different ages of the world1 are either adopted or rejected4 ,dr4 ,hales1 in his 8,analysis10 vol4 i4 pp4 #c-g1 gives a list of more than a hundred and twenty different dates of the birth of ,christ1 under the title of 8,epochs of the ,creation20 and he adds that the list might be swelled to the number of three hundred6 ,in such a multitude of discordant dates we might1 at first sight1 despair of ever arriving at the truth2 but let us remember that error is a hydra-headed monster1 which in chronology as well as in more sacred subjects1 can only be successfully destroyed by the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the word of ,god4 ,it is easy to see the source of the differences of opinion among the learned1 in regard to the point under consideration4 ,instead of taking the sacred ,scriptures as their guide1 men have chosen rather to follow their own fancies2 and1 because discrepancies were found to exist in the ancient texts1 they have with one consent agreed to abandon the light of internal evidence1 and to take refuge in the obscure glimmerings of heathen tradition or the doubtful testimony of ,jewish writers and ,christian fathers4 ,hence1 we have all varieties of dates1 from the bold conjecture of ,alphonsus1 king of ,castile1 who supposed that the ,mundane ,cycle of #gjjj years had nearly expired at the birth of ,christ1 to the traditionary epoch of the ,chronicle of ,axum in ,abyssinia1 which1 according to ,bruce1 places that event in the year of the world #eejj2 and1 from the ,alexandrian or ,constantinopolitan era1 which1 according to the computation of the ,greeks1 places it in ,a4 ,m4 #eejh1 to the ,jewish epoch of the 8,seder ,olam ,rabba10 which according to ,ganz1 dates it in ,a4,m4 #cgea4 ,the following ,table of the extent of the different ages of the world according to the three texts1 will serve the double purpose of showing the leading varieties in the computation of the date of the ,nativity from ,creation1 and of bringing before our readers1 at a single glance1 a condensed view of the result of our investigations in the preceding pages4 ,as the ,samaritan text comprehends only the chronology of the first two ages1 the extent of the remaining four ages is borrowed from the ,hebrew4 ,,table ,,xvii4 ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,hebrew4 ,,septuagint4 ,,samaritan4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 #a4 ,antediluvian age #afef #bbfb #acjg #b4 ,postdiluvian age #dbg #aadg #ajag #c4 ,patriarchal age #dcj #dca #dcj #d4 ,critarchal age #dhj #fab #dhj #e4 ,monarchal age #dbd #dci #dbd #f4 ,hierarchal age #ehc #ehe #ehc -------- -------- -------- ,birth of ,christ ,a4,m4 #djjj #edgf #dbda ,error in the ,sixth age #b #j #b ,error in the ,vulgar date #b #b #b -------- -------- -------- ,extent of the ,six ages #djjd #edgh #dbde ,in the preceding ,table we have reckoned the date of the ,birth of ,christ in current years1 and included the year of ,abraham's sojourning in ,egypt in the ,patriarchal age of the ,septuagint computation4--,see page #ff of this ,dissertation4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,historical ,,confirmation ,,of ,,the ,,true ,,system ,,of ,,chronology4 ,testimonies of the ancient chronographers and historians before and after ,christ1 in favour of the chronology of the ,septuagint--,demetrius1 ,eupolemus1 ,josephus1 ,justin ,martyr1 and all the early fathers of the first three centuries--,theophilus1 ,hippolytus1 ,africanus1 ,origen1 ,cyprian1 ,lactantius1 ,epiphanius1 ,ambrose1 ,ephrem ,syrus1 ,augustine1 ,chrysostom1 ,sulpicius ,severus1 ,annianus1 ,syncellus1 ,eutychius1 the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle1 and the ,council called 8,synodus in ,trullo0--,probable cause of minute variations among the ancient chronographers4 ,in confirmation of the true epoch of the birth of ,christ1 and the accuracy of the ,septuagint chronology1 we select the following examples of ancient testimony1 for which we are chiefly indebted to the learned works of ,russell and ,clinton1 8,connection of ,sacred and ,profane ,history10 vol4 i41 pp4 #aac-abj1 and 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i41 pp4 #bhf-bia4 ,demetrius1 who lived ,b4,c4 #bbj1 and is cited by ,eusebius and ,polyhistor1 states that 8from ,adam to the ,eisodus1 were #cfbd years2 from the flood #acfj2 and from the ,call of ,abraham #bae40 ,it follows1 that he reckoned the ,antediluvian age #bbfd years1 and the ,postdiluvian #aade2 adding two years to the former1 and taking them from the latter by mistake1 but preserving the correct sum of both #cdji years1 and the true epoch of the ,eisodus ,a4,m4 #cfbd1 see ,tables ,,vii4 and ,,viii4 ,eupolemus1 who lived ,b4,c4 #agd1 and is cited by ,clemens ,alexandrinus1 states that 8from ,adam to the #eth year of ,demetrius ,poliorcetes1 the #abth of ,ptolemy ,soter1 were #eadi years40 ,if to this number1 as ,dr4 ,russell remarks1 we add #bif1 as the date ,b4,c4 of the #eth of ,demetrius1 the epoch of the nativity is1 according to ,eupolemus1 ,a4,m4 #edde4 ,from the works of ,josephus1 who flourished ,a4,d4 #ij1 both ,russell and ,jackson have determined the same epoch at ,a4,m4 #edha4 ,justin ,martyr1 who wrote ,a4,d4 #adj1 speaking of the prophecies concerning ,christ1 says1 8some were delivered #ejjj years before his appearing1 some #cjjj1 some #bjjj2 and1 some again #ajjj1 and others #hjj years40#bi ,ignatius1 ,clemens ,romanus1 ,irenus1 ,polycarp1 ,tertullian1 and all the early fathers of the first three centuries1 held similar opinions respecting the antiquity of the prophecies1 and the appearance of the ,saviour of the world in the sixth millennium4 ,theophilus1 ,bishop of ,antioch1 ,a4,d4 #ahj1 placed the epoch of the ,nativity in ,a4,m4 #eejg1 according to ,kennicott2 and ,clemens ,alexandrinus1 who lived ,a4,d4 #aid1 placed the same epoch in ,a4,m4 #eddd1 according to ,clinton and ,cuninghame1 on the supposition that he follows ,eupolemus4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 however1 has shown1 in his 8,fulness of the ,times10 ,part ii4 pp4 #ei1 #fj1 that by correcting an error of thirty-four years1 the epoch of ,clemens is ,a4,m4 #edgh2 and1 by the most indefatigable scrutiny of his numbers1 that the epoch of ,josephus is ,a4,m4 #edgb1 the difference of six years arising from his well-known error of this amount in the ,antediluvian age4 ,hippolytus1 ,a4,d4 #bjj1 states that 8the first advent of our incarnate ,lord took place in the #eejjth year of the world40 ,julius ,africanus 7apud ,syncellum7 ,a4,d4 #bbj1 says that 8the ,jews have transmitted to us1 from the extant ,hebrew histories1 the number of #eejj years from creation to the epiphany of the ,saviour10--a conclusion1 which1 as ,syncellus remarks1 was received by all the learned ,christians of his day4 ,it is also remarkable1 that although both ,theophilus and ,africanus seem to omit the second ,cainan in the ,postdiluvian age1 yet their dates of the foundation of ,solomon's temple agree with that of ,mr4 ,cuninghame to a year or two2 thus showing that an error of #acj years in relation to an epoch so generally known1 was wholly inadmissible into any system of chronology pretending to be founded on the sacred writings4 ,origen1 ,a4,d4 #bcj1 states that 8our ,lord descended from ,heaven for the salvation of man1 #fjjj years after the ,almighty had formed the first of the human race40 ,cyprian1 ,a4,d4 #bej1 says that 8#fjjj years are already almost accomplished since the devil made his first assault on man40 ,lactantius1 ,a4,d4 #cjj1 says1 8philosophers who calculate the thousands of ages from the beginning of the world1 must know that the #fjjjth year that is1 the sixth millenary1 is not yet finished40 ,epiphanius1 ,a4,d4 #cfh1 says 8the preaching of ,christ began in the fifteenth year of ,tiberius ,csar1 in the #cjth year of his age1 which was in the #eejith year of the world's creation40 ,this date differs only by one year from that which we have assigned to the same epoch4 ,hesychius1 a contemporary of ,jerome1 says1 8the incarnation of the ,redeemer took place nearly #fjjj years from the foundation of the world40 ,ambrose1 bishop of ,milan1 ,a4,d4 #cge1 says1 8but now more than #fjjj years are counted from the foundation of the world40 ,ephrem ,syrus1 ,a4,d4 #cgh1 says1 8the ,saviour was to appear after #eejj years1 from creation1 to deliver man40 ,augustine1 ,a4,d4 #cih1 says1 8since from the first man1 #fjjj years are not yet completed40 ,chrysostom1 his contemporary1 says1 8after #ejjj years and more1 ,christ came as the substitute of our race40 ,sulpicius ,severus1 ,a4,d4 #djj1 makes the date of the ,nativity ,a4,m4 #edfi1 according to ,clinton4 ,annianus ,a4,d4 #dje1 ,syncellus ,a4,d4 #gib1 ,eutychius ,a4,d4 #icg1 and a host of later writers1 adopt the epoch ,a4,m4 #eejj1 following ,africanus4 ,the author of the 8,paschal ,chronicle10 makes the epoch ,a4,m4 #eejg2 and the meeting of the council1 called 8,synodus in ,trullo10 ,a4,d4 #fia1 reckoned it ,a4,m4 #eejh1 which is the same as our date of the ,epiphany4 ,in short1 the epochs of the ,nativity1 the ,epiphany1 and the ,resurrection1 7 1 1 7 appear to have been so inseparably connected in the minds of the ancient writers1 as to make them sometimes put the one for the other2 a circumstance1 which may account for not a few of the small varieties in their computation of the year of the world which was the commencement of the ,christian era4#cj ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,reduction ,,of ,,the ,,mundane ,,era ,,of ,,redemption4 ,errors of ,eusebius1 ,jerome1 and the ,western churches--,consistency of the ,eastern and ,southern churches to the latest period--,chronology of the ,russians and ,armenians that of the ,septuagint--,testimony of ,abulpharajius--,chronological innovations of the ,venerable ,bede--,his denouncement as a heretic on this account--,chronology of the ,roman church different from that of the ,latin ,vulgate--,the chronology of the ,masoretes an abridgement of the true--,the chronology of the ,roman ,martyrology preserved by ,pontifical authority to the present day--,extract from ,strauchius--,an important testimony in favour of the true chronology4 ,having shown by incontestable evidence1 that the computation of the ,septuagint was universally received as the true chronology of the ,church of ,christ from the earliest periods of its history1 and that it was also received by the ,jews themselves1 at least two centuries before the ,christian era2 let us now shortly inquire how it came to be abandoned1 and the chronology of the ,masorete ,hebrew text adopted in its stead4 ,eusebius of ,cesarea1 ,a4,d4 #cbe1 or some one for him1 acting under ,jewish influence1 reduced the era of ,redemption from ,a4,m4 #edgh to ,a4,m4 #ebjj1 by the exclusion of the ,postdiluvian ,cainan1 the adoption of the forged period for the ,critarchal age1 and the omission of fifteen years in the ,monarchal4 ,in these errors1 he was followed by ,jerome1#ca ,a4,d4 #cgh1 and some of the ,western churches2 but his system was resolutely opposed by all the ,eastern and ,southern churches1 in which the chronological authority of ,africanus and ,epiphanius prevailed4 ,this opposition has indeed preserved the true chronology in some countries to a very late period2 for we find that the ,russians1 who received it from the ,greeks1 still reckon that the ,christian era commenced in ,a4,m4 #eeji1 as may be seen by reference to their native historians4 ,the remoter ,eastern churches1 with some slight variations1 also adhered to the longer chronology2 as testified by ,abulfarajius1 the celebrated ,armenian historian1 who flourished in the thirteenth century1 and who reckoned the same epoch at ,a4,m4 #eehf1 apparently to adjust it to the birth of ,peleg1 in ,a4,m4 #bgic1 the former number being just double the latter2 for1 8in his days was the world divided10 at the command of 7 7 the ,god of the ages1 or the worlds4 ,the ,western ,churches indeed1 can scarcely be said to have followed the chronology either of ,eusebius or of ,jerome1 till the time of the venerable ,bede1 ,a4,d4 #gbj2 and the innovations of the latter were so ill received by his contemporaries1 that he was denounced as a heretic1 because he dared to assert1 in opposition to all the fathers of the ,church1 that ,christ was not born in the sixth millenary of the world2 see ,usher's 8,chronologia ,sacra10 p4 #ej4 ,the chronology of the ,roman ,church appears to have remained in this state during the dark ages till the meeting of the ,council of ,trent1 ,a4,d4 #aefc1 when the ,protestants1 under the double influence of prejudice against the errors of the ,church1 and overweening confidence in the ,hebrew text1 adopted the modern and corrupted chronology of the ,jews6 ,the ,roman chronologists had1 however1 abridged the true computation of the ancient ,church of ,christ only by #bgh years2 while the ,masoretes and their followers had abridged it by no less than #adgd years6 ,the system of the former continues to prevail in the ,church of ,rome1 though contrary to the ,latin ,vulgate1 and the system of the latter in the ,reformed ,churches1 even to this day4 ,in the 8,roman ,martyrology10 published by the authority of ,pope ,gregory ,,xiii41 in ,a4,d4 #aehb1 and revised by command of ,pope ,urban ,,viii41 in ,a4,d4 #afdj1 we find the following statement1 which according to ,strauchius1 8,breviarium ,chronologicum10 p4 #chb1 is read in the churches every year on the #beth of ,december3--8,in the #eaiith year from the creation of the world1 when ,god created heaven and earth2 and the #biegth after the deluge2 the #bjaeth from the birth of ,abraham2 the #aeajth from the time of ,moses and the ,israelites leaving ,egypt2 and the #ajcbnd from the time of ,david being anointed king2 in the #feth annual week of ,daniel2 in the #aidth ,olympiad2 in the #gebnd year since the building of ,rome2 in the #dbnd year of the ,emperor ,octavius ,augustus1 when the whole world was blessed with peace2 in the sixth age of the world2 ,jesus ,christ1 ,eternal ,god1 and ,son of the ,eternal ,father1 conceived from the ,holy ,ghost1 was born of the ,virgin ,mary1 in ,bethlehem of ,judea40#cb ,there are several contradictions among the synchronisms contained in this statement1 which are acknowledged by ,roman ,catholic writers themselves1 as may be seen in the works of ,baronius and ,petavius2 but1 it is a noble public testimony to the true faith of the ,church of ,christ1 and an important public evidence in favour of its ancient chronology4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,christian ,,and ,,jewish ,,systems ,,of ,,chronology ,,erroneous4 ,chronology of the ,english ,bible erroneous--,usher influenced by the ,masoretes--,tradition of the ,house of ,elias--,its complete refutation both from ,scripture and fact--,utility and application of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,chart of ,chronology0--,reasons assigned by the ,jewish ,rabbis why their expected ,messiah is not yet come--,their curse upon all who calculate the ,times4 ,from the whole of the preceding testimony and argument1 it must appear evident that the chronology of ,usher1 which places the ,christian era in ,a4,m4 #djjd1 which is adopted in all the larger editions of the ,english ,bible1 and which is still strenuously maintained by ,english divines1 is but of comparatively recent origin1 and rests upon a very unsound foundation4 ,we have no doubt that the pious and learned ,archbishop was influenced in his determination to adopt the ,masorete chronology1 contrary to his better judgment1 by a tradition current among the ,jews from a very early period1 which appears to be only a corruption of the more ancient one referred to at the beginning of this ,dissertation4 ,after their rejection of ,jesus ,christ as the true ,messiah1 the ,jews1 in order to cover their retreat from the truth1 gave out in their ,talmud the following gloss on the universal belief of the ,church3--8,traditio ,domus ,eli3 ,mundus sex millibus annis durabit2 duobus millibus inanitas2 duobus millibus lex2 duobus millibus tempus ,messi20--the meaning of which is1 that according to the tradition of the house of ,elias1 the world shall last #fjjj years2 of which #bjjj shall pass without the law2 #bjjj under the law2 and #bjjj under the ,messiah4 ,it is proper to observe that the inventor of this tradition was neither ,elijah the ,tishbite1 nor his antitype1 ,john the ,baptist1 but a certain famous doctor of the ,jewish schools1 who flourished after the ,messianic age2 and1 that not the slightest trace of the tradition itself is to be found in the ,holy ,scriptures6 ,as some writers1 however1 consider it a confirmation of the modern ,hebrew chronology1 we may show that it is not only quite erroneous1 but inconsistent with itself1 even in its details4 ,referring to ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,chart of ,sacred ,chronology10 in which he has arranged the ,hebrew and ,septuagint chronologies in parallel columns1 and exhibited the most remarkable events in ancient history1 both according to the years of the world and before ,christ1 we see that according to the ,masorete text1 the law was delivered on ,mount ,sinai in ,a4,m4 #beac1 more than #ejj years after the time said to be predicted by ,elias6 ,hence1 it follows that the interval from that epoch till the end of the next #bjjj years1 is less than #aejj years1 and terminated in ,a4,m4 #djjj1 when1 according to the tradition1 the ,messiah was expected to appear6 ,with respect to the #bjjj years allotted to the reign of the ,messiah1 they are1 on their own showing1 nearly past2 inasmuch as #ahdd years of this period have already elapsed1 and yet1 according to their opinion1 he is not come6 ,the reason assigned by the ,jewish ,rabbis for this long delay1 is that their sins have prevented his coming6 ,this grievous falsification of their famous ,doctor's prediction1 has made them so ashamed of their traditions1 that they have pronounced a curse upon all who dare to calculate the times3 --8,animam exhalent illi qui supputant terminos40 ,on this and other curious matters relating to the ,hebrew chronology1 see ,father ,le ,quien's 8,defense du ,texte ,hbreu et de la ,vulgate10 reprinted in the 8,cours ,complet10 vol4 iii4 pp4 #aebe-aehf4cc ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,cyclical ,,character ,,of ,,the ,,mundane ,,times4 #a4 ,the ,revolutions of the ,heavenly bodies appointed for ,cycles--,origin of the cycles of the year and the month--,the subject of ,enoch's prophecy--,mr4 ,cuninghame's discovery of the cycle from the ,creation to the ,era of ,redemption--,scriptural ,cycles of frequent occurrence--,the numbers of ,jubilee and of ,pentecost--of ,pilgrimage and ,persecution--of ,omnipotence1 glory1 and wisdom2 and of mystery1 vengeance1 and forgiveness--,the prophetic numbers of ,daniel--,discovery of their connection with the ,higher ,cycles of ,astronomy1 by ,m4 de ,chesaux and ,mr4 ,cuninghame ,the true system of chronology receives its grandest confirmation from the cyclical character of the times appointed by 7 7 the ,father of the ages4 ,in ,genesis i4 #ad1 the word of ,god created two luminaries in the firmament of ,heaven1 for giving light upon the earth1 and for separating day and night2 and1 for signs1 and times1 and days and years6 ,thus early were the phenomena of the sun and moon appointed to indicate the arrangements of ,divine providence1 as well as to regulate the ordinary periods of time4 ,before man1 however1 could understand the nature of these periods as they were gradually unfolded by the revolutions of the heavenly bodies1 or by the still higher cycles of prophecy which were afterwards revealed to ,god's chosen people1 the natural division of the day1 and the sacred division of the week were appointed for his observance4 ,the origin of the year is considered by the learned as involved in obscurity2 but we think there is a striking indication of its length in the life of ,enoch4 ,this favoured ,patriarch lived a year of years on earth1 that is1 a year of #cfe prophetic days2 and he himself was a prophet1 who1 by the ,spirit of ,god1 was enabled to see far into the womb of futurity4 ,it is also very remarkable that1 according to ,mr4 ,cuninghame's singular discoveries1 the birth of ,him1 who was the great subject of ,enoch's prophecy1 took place at a period of fifteen years of years1 or fifteen years of prophetic days from the creation6 ,the origin of the month is referable to the same age2 for we recognize the month of thirty days in the account of the year of the ,deluge2 and1 a period of four prophetic months1 or #abj prophetic days1 is visible in the #abj years of grace before that awful catastrophe4 ,the sacred period of seven days also assumed a prophetic character4 ,in ,pharaoh's dream1 the seven years of plenty1 and the seven years of famine1 were vividly depicted4 ,after seven days previous warning1 the ,diluvian rain descended in torrents for forty days4 ,after ,jericho was encompassed seven days1 the last day seven times1 by seven priests with seven trumpets1 the walls were levelled with the ground4 ,the number forty is prophetic2 the ,israelites wandered forty prophetic days1 that is1 forty years1 in the wilderness2 ,moses was in the mount forty days2 and1 ,christ was tempted forty days4 ,in forty days1 ,nineveh was to be destroyed2 ,christ was seen of his disciples forty days after his resurrection2 and1 in forty years1 after his baptism1 was ,jerusalem destroyed4 ,the number of seven days and seven years1 with their multiples and higher powers1 perpetually recur in the ,mosaic institutes2 and the period of seven times seven1 or forty-nine days and forty-nine years1 is particularly signalized in the feasts of the ,jews4 ,balaam1 who knew the sacredness of the number seven1 in the divine institutions1 at three different times and places1 built seven altars1 and slew seven oxen and seven rams1 in order to propitiate the favour of ,god4 ,in the land of ,canaan1 seven nations were destroyed in seven years4 ,solomon's temple was seven years in building1 and in #dcj years after the celebration of the first passover within its walls1 it was destroyed4 ,the latter number1 as we have seen1 is highly prophetic1 corresponding to the #dcj prophetic days of ,ezekiel1 and having a mysterious reference to the #dcj years of promise to ,abraham1 the #dcj years of ,gentile persecution1 and the three times #dcj days1 or #a1bij years of ,daniel4 ,but time would fail us to speak of the seven spirits of ,god1 the seven eyes1 the seven lamps1 the seven stars1 the seven golden lamp-stands1 the seven churches1 the seven angels1 the seven seals1 the seven vials1 the seven plagues1 the seven heads1 the seven crowns1 the seven mountains1 and the seven kings2 the seven times1 yea and the seventy times seven--the perfect numbers of omnipotence1 glory and wisdom2 and1 of mystery1 vengeance and forgiveness6 ,we have already seen the prophetic nature of ,daniel's seventy weeks1 and it now only remains to notice his other prophetic periods4 ,in ,dan4 xii4 #ad1 mention is made of 8a time1 times and half a time10 which should be accomplished1 before the wonders he had seen should come to an end4 ,this period is clearly shown by writers on the prophecies1 to signify three and a-half prophetic years1 forty-two prophetic months1 or #abfj prophetic days2 and this view is confirmed by the mention of #abij and #acce prophetic days1 in the context4 ,again1 in ,dan4 viii4 #ad1 we read of #bcjj prophetic days1 after the lapse of which1 8the sanctuary shall be cleansed40 ,that these periods are all connected with each other1 and that they each signify so many years1 has been long known and generally admitted2 but1 that they are connected with the revolutions of the heavenly bodies1 appears to be but a very recent discovery6 ,mr4 ,birks1 of ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge1 in his 8,elements of ,prophecy10 just published1 has very properly remarked1 in p4 #cfh1 that1 8,it seems to have been first unfolded by ,m4 de ,chesaux1 a ,french writer1 purely as a curiosity of science2 but it is ,mr4 ,cuninghame who has revived attention to this interesting topic40 ,the fact is1 that the original work of ,m4 de ,chesaux might have lain for ever on the shelves of the library of the ,university of ,lausanne1 had not ,mr4 ,cuninghame searched it out with his wonted industry1 and republished the author's discovery anew in his work on the 8,jubilean ,chronology40 ,we shall endeavour to give our readers some idea of this curious discovery4 #b4 ,lengths of the tropical year and the synodical period of the moon1 according to ,sir ,john ,herschel--,application of the method of continued fractions to the determination of their approximating ratios--,various lunisolar cycles--,the ,octateris of the ,greeks--,the cycle of nineteen discovered by ,meton1 but probably known to the ,hebrews--,the period of ,calippus--,proof that the numbers of ,daniel are lunisolar cycles--,remarks of ,mr4 ,birks in his 8,elements of ,prophecy0--,observations of ,mr4 ,cuninghame in his 8,scientific ,chronology0--,proof that the prophetic month and the jubilean period are lunisolar cycles4 ,the latest determinations of the lengths of the tropical year1 and the lunar month1 or synodical period of the moon1 are1 according to ,sir ,john ,herschel1 #cfe days1 #e hours1 #dh minutes1 #dig seconds2 and #bi days1 #ab hours1 #dd minutes1 #bhg seconds4 8,astronomy10 pp4 #bje1 #bbd4 ,by the method of ,continued ,fractions1#cd we find that the continually approximating ratios of these periods are represented by the following series of fractions3 ,numbers1 7#a7 7#b7 7#c7 7#d7 7#e7 7#f7 7#g7 7#h7 7#i7 ,ratios1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 c4 where the numerators represent the numbers of years1 and the denominators the numbers of lunations1 necessary to bring the sun and moon again into the same relative position1 very nearly at the same point of time in the tropical year4 ,of these ratios1 some have been long known2 the fourth is the ,greek cycle called ,octateris1 discovered ,b4,c4 #fjj1 and is a very rude approximation3 the sixth is the famous cycle re-discovered by ,meton ,b4,c4 #dcb1 but probably known to the ,hebrews from the earliest ages1 as the lives of ,seth1 ,methuselah and ,noah are exact multiples of this cycle1 as well as the ,antediluvian age itself1 and is a remarkably near approximation to the truth2 four times this ratio gives the period of ,calippus1 which was rectified by the omission of one day in seventy-six years4 ,these approximations1 however1 are much inferior in accuracy to the higher terms of the series2 from which1 in fact1 any number of approximate ratios may be deduced by the following principle3--,if a series of fractions be all equal to each other1 the sum or difference of the numerators and denominators of any pair will constitute a new fraction equal to each2 and the same is true of fractions whose numerators and denominators are equi-multiples of those of any of the given or derived fractions4 ,hence1 from the terms of the preceding series1 we derive the following additional ratios1 whose degree of approximation1 of course1 depends on that of the fractions of which they are composed4 ,from the eighth and ninth ratios1 by addition1 we obtain the ratio 1 which is so remarkably correct1 that the approximation is within about three-quarters of an hour of the truth4 ,from the sixth and seventh ratios1 by subtraction1 we obtain1 the ratio 1 which shows that the prophetic period of #abfj years is a scientific lunisolar cycle4 ,from the two new ratios thus obtained1 by addition1 we have a third new ratio 1 which proves that the prophetic period of #bcjj years is another scientific cycle1 in which the approximation is nearly twelve hours4 ,mr4 ,birks1 in his 8,elements of ,prophecy10 pp4 #cfh-cgb1 distinctly acknowledges the 8,cyclical character of the ,prophetic ,times10 and gives the numerators of the above series of ratios4 ,he adds a very ingenious explanation of these cycles1 and remarks that1 8the highest prophetic period1 #bcjj years1 is perhaps the only secular cycle1 composed of centuries1 known to exist60 ,the secular cycle of #ebjj1 though not1 as far as we are aware1 a prophetic period1 is 8composed of centuries20 and being five times the cycle of #ajdj years1 is so close an approximation to the truth1 that it is within about #c hours1 and is therefore considerably more accurate than the cycle of #bcjj years6 ,what then does ,mr4 ,birks mean in this passage8 ,perhaps the following sentence from ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,scientific ,chronology of the year #ahci10 will supply the answer3 8,moreover1 #bcjj years is the only centurial number1 which is an original cycle in astronomy2 for though we have a cycle of #ebjj years1 it is only as the multiple of the perfect one of #ajdj by #e40 ,from the fifth and sixth ratios in the series1 we obtain those of and 1 which shows that thirty years1 the prophetic month1 and forty-nine years1 the jubilean period1 are also scientific cycles1 but not possessing such close approximation to the truth as the larger cycles4 ,in the same way1 it may be easily proved1 that the periods of #abij years and #ajgh years are scientific cycles2 the former being three times the prophetic period of pilgrimage and trial1 namely #dcj years1 which is also a cycle of an inferior degree of approximation2 and the latter being exactly twenty-two jubilees4#ce ,,chapter ,v4 ,,discovery ,,of ,,new ,,mundane ,,cycles4 #a4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame's discovery of the mystical signification of the ,seventy years' ,captivity--,its connection with the ,era of the ,french ,revolution--,confirmed by the sentiments of the modern ,jews--,prediction of ,rabbi ,joseph ,crool--,prediction in the ,hebrew ,tract1 8,explanation of the ,times10 published in #agid--,the latter prediction not fulfilled--,hope concerning ,israel4 ,besides developing the original views of ,m4 de ,chesaux1 and applying them in a very remarkable manner to the great epochs of the ,septuagint chronology1 ,mr4 ,cuninghame has suggested and confirmed the important discovery1 that the period of seventy years' captivity in ,babylon 8has a mystical signification10 as well as a literal one1 8and probably represents the whole period of the captivities and dispersions of ,judah1 until the final redemption of the nation40#cf ,he has more fully developed his ideas on this subject1 in his 8,chronology of ,israel10 and in his 8,fulness of the ,times20 in which he shows1 that the mystical interpretation is a period of seventy jubilees1 or #cdcj years in ,spiritual ,babylon1 at the expiration of which 8the ,redemption of ,israel draweth nigh40 ,reckoning this period to commence at the epoch of the first ,redemption of ,israel1 the ,exodus from ,egypt1 he finds that it terminates at the era of the ,french ,revolution1 ,a4 ,d4 #agib4 ,this opinion is strongly confirmed by the sentiments of the modern ,jews4 ,thus1 in a book entitled 8,the ,restoration of ,israel10 published in #ahab1 by ,rabbi ,joseph ,crool1 ,teacher of ,hebrew1 in the ,university of ,cambridge1 the author says1 p4 #ei1 8,by this calculation we may learn that the ,jubilee of the ,restoration of ,israel has begun already these twenty years back1 that is1 just when the ,revolution began in ,france2 at that very time1 the seventy jubilees were at an end40 ,the following is still more curious1 p4 #fj3--8,there are yet thirty-six years to the end of the ,jubilee of ,israel1 and before the end of these thirty-six years1 ,israel will be restored1 and the ,messiah will take possession of his empire20 that is1 in ,a4 ,d4 #ahdh6 ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in his 8,chronology of ,israel10 p4 #fi1 refers to a ,hebrew tract1 published in #agid1 entitled 8,explanation of the ,times10 in which the ,advent of the ,messiah is placed at the end of #aab jubilees from ,creation1 an epoch which1 according to the true chronology1 was ,a4,m4 #edhh1 and corresponded exactly to the fourteenth year of ,christ1 when1 according to the law1 he first appeared in his own person in the ,temple1 and was no longer a child4 ,it is also worthy of remark1 that1 if this period be reckoned according to the curtailed system of ,jewish chronology1--which is even shorter than that of the modern ,hebrew text1 placing the birth of ,christ in ,a4 ,m4 #cgfj1--the advent of their ,messiah was expected in ,a4 ,m4 #efjj1 that is1 according to them1 in ,a4 ,d4 #ahdj6 ,the ,jews1 in this calculation1 erroneously reckon the ,jubilee at fifty years instead of forty-nine2 for #ej multiplied by #aab1 gives the product #efjj4 ,the epoch being now past1 which1 according to the latter computation was to be the era of their ,redemption1 let us hope that they will no longer look for the first advent of the ,messiah1 seeing that it has long since taken place2 but that1 embracing the religion of the ,new ,testament1 which is virtually the same as that of the ,old1 they will turn with their whole heart to seek 8the angel of ,jehovah's presence1 who saved them20 who1 8in his love and pity redeemed them20 and1 who 8bare them and carried them all the days of old40 #b4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame's discovery of seven streams of time1 of seventy jubilees each1 in the true system of chronology--,this test wholly inapplicable to any other system--,his discovery of five streams of time of different jubilean periods--,utility of his 8,fulness of the ,times10 where these discoveries are developed--,notice of his more recent works4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame proves that the periods of all the great eras in the history of the ,israelites and ,jews1 are measured by great jubilean and astronomical cycles4 ,in his 8,fulness of the ,times10 he demonstrates the existence of seven streams of jubilean time from the era of the ,exodus and establishment in ,canaan1 each containing a period of seventy jubilees1 in the true system of chronology2 and that these seven streams are marked at their beginning and end1 and at several intermediate points1 by great eras in history4 ,he shows also that all other schemes of chronology1 particularly those of ,usher1 ,hales1 and the ,jewish ,rabbis1 cannot stand this test of accuracy and perfection1 and consequently1 none of them can be the true system4 ,to these great streams of jubilean time1 he adds other five streams1 consisting of different periods of jubilees1 which he has discovered in the true system1 all marked1 in like manner1 by remarkable historical events4 ,in the course of his laborious investigations1 in order to establish these general streams of cyclical time1 he touches on many interesting and disputed facts both in sacred and profane history1 which renders the work a complete storehouse of information on chronological questions2 while the ,supplements1 ,prefaces1 ,dissertations1 and ,appendixes1 to which we had such frequent occasion to refer1 partake so much of the same general character1 as to make it a work of universal reference4 ,in the general preface to the second edition1 the author announced some new discoveries in regard to the cyclical character of the mundane times4 ,these he has more fully developed and applied with the most extraordinary industry and ingenuity1 in the following recent works3--8,the ,scientific ,chronology of the year #ahci20 8,a ,supplement to0 the preceding work1 8comprising the ,arithmetical ,solution1 and ,chronological ,application of the ,number #fff20 8,the ,season of the ,end20 8,a ,chart of ,sacred ,chronology10 with an 8,essay to accompany0 it2 8,a ,dissertation on the ,apocalypse10 with 8,a ,supplement in two ,parts3--,i4 ,on the ,scientific ,chronology1 as a ,test of ,apocalyptical ,interpretation2--,,ii4 ,on the ,scientific character of the ,great ,numbers of ,daniel20 also 8,a ,discourse on the ,scientific ,measures of the ,mundane ,times1 and the ,reasons for the ,greek ,chronology20 and1 8,a ,table of the ,greek and ,hebrew ,chronologies from ,creation to the end of the ,jewish ,war10 #dth ,edition4 ,we shall now endeavour to give a short notice of these discoveries4 #c4 ,various cycles which enter into the true system of chronology--,mr4 ,cuninghame's discovery of the trinal fraction--,its explanation and application by an ,algebraic formula--,original form in which it was discovered--,its superiority to the formul of the figurate numbers--,remarkable instance of its application to ,scriptural and other numbers1 and to lunar and solar cyclical numbers--,mr4 ,cuninghame's definition of the trinal fraction the most correct--,the series deduced from its formula possesses curious properties4 ,it has been already shown that according to the will of ,him1 who 7 7 constructed the ages1 the septenary cycle1 with its multiples and higher powers1 and the lunisolar cycles1 with their sums1 differences and multiples1 including the ,metonic1 the ,jubilean1 the ,prophetic and the ,secular1 enter into the structure of the true chronology4 ,to these1 ,mr4 ,cuninghame adds the ,duodenary cycle1 and its multiples and higher powers2 the ,undenary cycle1 which is also ,lunisolar2 the ,quinary cycle1 which is indicated no less than four times in the formation of man2 and the ,trinal fraction1 which alone seems to require explanation4 ,the author was led by circumstances detailed in 8,the ,scientific ,chronology0 pp4 #e-h1 to give the name of 8,trinal fraction0 to the general term of a series of numbers of which each is composed of the root1 its square1 and unity1 that is1 in ,algebraic language1 n#b n #a2 an expression1 in which n may be zero1 unity1 or any whole number whatever1 and giving1 by the substitution of #j1 #a1 #b1 #c1 c4 as roots1 the series itself1 namely1 #a1 #c1 #g1 #ac1 #ba1 #ca1 #dc1 #eg1 #gc1 c4 ,to the discovery of this series1 as new in mathematics1 of course1 he makes no claim2 because1 a mere tyro in that science could write out a hundred such in as many minutes2 see 8,dissertation on the ,apocalypse10 fourth edition1 pp4 #ebb1 #ebc2 but1 to the discovery of its application to the cyclical character of the mundane times1 he has a decided claim1 and we think he has fully substantiated it by a reference to chronological facts4 ,as to the formula itself1 its most general form is 7n#c n#b n7_/7n7 as originally discovered by the author2 and in this form it is manifestly more simple and general than any of the formul of the figurate numbers2 for1 if n be taken equal to zero1 in any of the latter1 the value of the vanishing fraction is always equal to zero2 but1 in the former1 it is equal to unity1 the first term of the series1 and the basis of all numerical calculation4 ,let us take some other examples of its application3 the sacred number #c1 is the trinal fraction of unity1 and although it includes the higher powers of the root1 is only the sum of three units1 mysteriously indicating a trinity in unity4 ,the sacred number #g1 is the trinal fraction of #b1 which is the basis of the binary system of numeration so natural to man4 ,the number #ac1 is the trinal fraction of #c1 and is a lunisolar cycle of years1 the hebdomadal measure of the seasons of the year1 and the actual number of the tribes of ,israel4 ,the number #ba is the trinal fraction of #d1 and the product of the sacred numbers #c and #g1 the trinal fractions of #a and #b4 ,the number #ca1 is the trinal fraction of #e1 the basis of the ,quinary scale so incorporated with the human frame1 and is the measure of the life of the first man4 ,the number #eg1 is the trinal fraction of the sacred number #g1 and three times the ,metonic cycle of nineteen years1 being an element of the ,mundane ,times4 ,lastly1 the number #gc1 is the trinal fraction of #h1 a lunisolar cycle of years1 and gives1 when multiplied by #e1 the number of days in the solar cycle4 ,the trinal fraction has been compared also with the formula n#b n #a1 which is only a particular case of it1 namely1 where n is negative4 ,it is true1 that if in this formula1 #a1 #b1 #c1 c41 be taken for values of n1 it will still give the series of trinal fractions2 but it does not therefore follow that the two formul are the same2 for1 if in the latter1 n be taken equal to zero1 it will give the same result as when n is taken equal to #a6 ,the definition given by ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 is therefore the most accurate1 simple1 and general1 and one which can be easily comprehended without any reference to the formul of the ,figurate ,numbers4 ,moreover1 the author has shown in the works last referred to1 that the series of trinal fractions possess higher properties of science1 mathematically1 astronomically1 and chronologically1 than the triangular numbers1 from which it is pretended that they have been derived4 ,to some very curious properties and applications of the trinal fractions1 the author has added a 8,table of the ,trinal ,fractions from #a to #he1 showing the sums of the ,roots and ,fractions at each ,pentad10 p4 #eai of the 8,dissertation20 and he has shown how these numbers enter so extensively and so mysteriously into the whole structure of the ,mundane ,times6 #d4 ,application of the ,theory of the ,trinal ,fraction to the discovery of the meaning of the ,number of the ,beast in the ,revelation of ,john--,proof that the number #fff is the number of a ,man--,its indication of ,spiritual and ,secular dominion--,of ,tyranny and ,persecution--,recent efforts to raise the ,beast again to power--,a warning to ,protestants4 ,we may just give another example of the application of this theory to the discovery of the meaning of a very much disputed number both in chronology and history4 ,if we look into ,mr4 ,cuninghame's table1 we find that the number #aaa is the trinal fraction of #aj2 and if it be multiplied by the mathematically perfect number #f1 the number of blessing and cursing 7,deut4 xxvii4 #ab1 #ac7 it will give the product #fff1 the number of the ,beast 7,rev4 xiii4 #ah74 ,now1 we have seen that the number #aj1 or #e #e1 is a number indicated in the formation of man2 it is also the base of the ,denary system of numeration employed by all mankind2 it is plain1 therefore1 that the number of the ,beast1 to which was also given 8a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies10 is thus discovered to be 8the number of a man20 the two fives indicating both hands1 with which this human beast grasped at both spiritual and secular dominion over the saints of ,god4 ,but1 we know that when he attempted to use a third and a fourth five1 by putting his feet upon their necks1 and trampling them under him1 his wrath was mercifully restrained by a higher ,power1 and he lost one five1 that is1 one hand1 even the secular dominion6 ,nevertheless1 we find that now he is endeavouring to use both hands1 and is making a mighty effort to recover strength in the 8withered hand40 ,he has1 however1 been compelled to abandon the use of the foot1 and to declare aloud to ,christendom1 not only that it is perfectly innocuous at present1 but that it shall never be used again6 ,let ,protestants beware2 if once he recovers the use of the lost hand1 he will be sure again to employ the sleeping foot6 ,the solution of the problem is due to the author1 the commentary upon it is ours4 ,for an extensive and curious application of this number in the true system of ,chronology1 see the 8,supplement to the ,scientific ,chronology of #ahci40cg ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,demonstrations ,,of ,,the ,,septuagint ,,chronology4 #a4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame's application of the ,lunisolar cycles and ,septenary periods to the settlement of chronological questions--,the ,septuagint proved to be the exact truth by a complex harmony of scientific time--,his 8,synopsis of ,chronology0 recommended4 ,in his 8,synopsis of ,chronology10 ,mr4 ,cuninghame very fully developes the nature of the ,lunisolar ,cycles and ,septenary ,periods1 settles several important chronological questions by means of this touchstone of accuracy1 and gives a great many remarkable series of historical events1 whose intervals are all measured by complete cycles from the era of ,creation1 from the births and deaths of the ,ante and ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 and from the ,exodus and occurrences in the life of ,david the ,king4 ,in this manner1 he shows that the ,septuagint chronology 8is proved to be the exact truth by such a complex harmony of scientific time1 or in other words1 of great astronomical periods1 which do1 as the web and the woof1 intersect and intertwine each other with multiplied and variegated harmony of arrangement1 knitting together all the great eras of the world1 and the most ancient antediluvian periods with the events of our times1 as to make it manifest that it is the workmanship1 not of a finite mind1 but of ,him who set forth the sun and moon in their courses20#ch see page #be4 ,the author next recapitulates the series of great periods to the birth and death of ,christ1 shows the use of the scientific chronology in refuting false dates1 c42 and gives astronomical evidence of the near approximation of the larger lunisolar cycles to the exact truth4 ,he then terminates this work with a series of the most valuable tables of chronology from ,creation to ,a4 ,d4 #ahcg1 including a curious table of the great periods which expire in that year4 #b4 ,evidence in favour of the ,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies compared and tested by ,mr4 ,cuninghame--,his detection of the ,scheme of ,fraud invented by the ,jewish ,rabbis for shortening the chronology of the ,scriptures--,his exposition of this ,scheme in three distinct ,acts1 and the result of the whole4 ,in his work1 entitled 8,the ,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies ,tried10 he very carefully sifts the evidence in favour of both systems1 by a minute analysis of the ,jubilean series from the ,greek era of ,creation ,b4 ,c4 #edgh1 and from the ,hebrew era1 ,b4 ,c4 #djjd1 and demonstrates1 by a comparative estimate of both series1 that the former must be the true chronology2 he then applies the test of the lunisolar cycles to the same era in both systems1 and to other eras of marked importance1 illustrating the whole in a tabular form2 establishes the accuracy of the ,greek series in the most irrefragable manner2 and1 finally1 detects the scheme adopted by the ,jewish ,rabbis in shortening the chronology of the ,scriptures1 showing that1 though it be one of deep and artful contrivance1 it will not stand the test of scientific investigation4 ,the following is their scheme of fraud which the author has detected1 and which they have employed for this nefarious purpose4 ,the first act of the ,rabbis in corrupting the chronology1 was to determine the total sum of years to be annihilated4 ,the second act was to divide it among the great subdivisions of the ,mundane ,times4 ,the third act was to distribute it among the reigns and administrations so as most effectually to conceal the fraud4 ,they first determined to place the ,mundane era at the birth of ,lamech ,b4 ,c4 #djje4 ,this comes out at the #ast of ,nisan1 of his first year ,b4 ,c4 #djjd4 ,thus they annihilated #adgd years4 ,their second act was to divide this sum of #adgd years1 by abstracting periods equal to the following from the great subdivisions of the ,mundane ages3-- ,i4 ,before the ,deluge2 #ast1 ,a period equal to that from ,noah's birth ,b4 ,c4 #chag1 to the flood ,b4 ,c4 #cbag1 namely #fjj years3 #bnd1 ,from the death of ,methusaleh to the ,deluge1 six years2 making the total curtailed from the ,creation to the ,flood1 #fjf years4 ,,ii4 ,from the ,flood to ,abraham2 a period equal to the interval from the death of ,noah ,b4 ,c4 #bhfg1 to the year before the birth of ,abraham ,b4 ,c4 #badf1 78,fulness of the ,times10 p4 #ach71 #gba years4 ,,iii4 ,from the ,exodus to the foundation of ,solomon's ,temple2 a period equal to the interval from the ,exodus ,b4 ,c4 #afci1 to the administration of ,ehud ,b4 ,c4 #aejf1 #acc years4 ,,iv4 ,from the foundation of ,solomon's ,temple to the ,captivity2 a period equal to the interval from the ,captivity of ,jehoiachin ,b4 ,c4 #eih1 to the carrying away the last remnant of the people ,b4 ,c4 #ehd1 7,jer4 lii4 #cj2 8,dissertation on the ,apocalypse10 p4 #ejd17 #ad years4 ,the total sum of all the years thus abstracted in these four periods is #adgd2 for in the #ast ,period are #fjf years4 #bnd #gba #crd #acc #dth #ad -------- ,total sum #adgd and the effect is1 as above stated1 to make the era of ,creation1 ,b4 ,c4 7#edgh-adgd7 ,b4 ,c4 #djjd4ci #c4 ,recommendation of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies ,tried0--,his description and ,table of the ,great ,periods of #ahch--;,his table of both ,chronologies--,his appeal to the disciples of ,usher--,his view of their chronological difficulties and paradoxes--,his call to them to produce their evidence in favour of their system4 ,this work concludes with a description and ,table of the ,great ,periods which terminate in and mark the year #ahch1 as the point of time which sums up and concentrates1 as in a focus1 the chronology of past ages4 ,these he divides into four great classes1 viz41 ,mundane1 ,patriarchal1 ,mosaic1 and ,intermediate ,eras1 illustrating the whole with tables and arguments1 and ending with 8,a ,comparative ,table of the ,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies from the ,creation to the accession of ,uzziah1 ,b4 ,c4 #haj1 showing their ,jubilean difference to the ,christian era at each date40 ,the inconceivable labour which the author has undergone to find out the true system of chronology1 and his triumphant success in establishing it on the double evidence of ,scripture testimony and ,mathematical and ,astronomical ,science1 entitle him to make the following decided appeal to the disciples of ,usher1 8,septuagint and ,hebrew ,chronologies ,tried10 pp4 #hh1 #hi4 8,they1 it seems1 possess the true chronology6 incumbered indeed with a few awkward difficulties and paradoxes2 as that the people1 whose sins ,st4 ,paul declares to have been filled up1 who had crucified the ,messiah1 and were the persecutors of his ,church1 and are the chronological forgers who have corrupted the times of ,daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks1 telling us in their almanacs1 as ,i see from that of their year of the world #eeih1 answering to #ahcg-h1 now open before me1 that from the destruction of the first temple by ,nebuchadnezzar1 to that of the second by the ,romans1 were only #dij years1 the true chronology being #feg years1 are yet more worthy of credit than the apostles of the ,lord1 and the first churches1 and the text of ,st4 ,luke6--,as that ,abraham was born only two years after the death of ,noah1 and was the contemporary of ,shem1 ,arphaxed1 ,salah1 ,eber1 the last of whom actually survived him2 and thus that there were different and discordant economies of the world co-existent and co-etaneous6--,as that1 it is better to twist1 and crucify1 and reject the chronological testimony of the whole book of ,judges1 than expressly to admit that the immaculate ,rabbis have interpolated in a single text1 #a ,kings vi4 #a41 a single false number6--,yet1 notwithstanding these few and awkward difficulties1--we repeat it--the disciples of ,usher can have no difficulty1 seeing they possess the truth6 in producing from their hidden treasures1 greater and more stupendous concentrations of the true chronology1 at some given point of time1 than has now been evolved from the ,septuagint60 #d4 ,recommendation of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's later works--,summary of the remarkable and original subjects of which they treat--,his remarks on the ,theories of modern ,geologists recommended--,their large demands upon time not warranted by the simplicity of the ,mosaic narrative--,the authority and authenticity of the ,inspired ,record endangered by their speculations--,another mode of solving ,geological difficulties recommended--,a boon of #aejj years additional granted to ,geologists--,recommendation of ,mr4 ,morison's 8,religious ,history of ,man0--,mr4 ,cuninghame's discoveries concentrated in his 8,chart of ,chronology0 and 8,essay10 and in the ,appendices to the fourth edition of his 8,dissertation on the ,apocalypse40 ,the views developed by ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in the preceding work1 are still more fully exemplified and applied in his later works4 ,in these1 he gives1 #ast1 ,a ,table1 accompanied with numerous cyclical demonstrations1 of the great periods which expire in #ahci2 a further elucidation of the four great classes of ,eras1 the ,mundane1 the ,patriarchal1 the ,ecclesiastical1 and the ,prophetical2 and remarks on the great periods which expire in #ahdj and #ahda4 #bnd4--,tables of the whole ,eras from ,creation to the last year of ,christ's personal ministry1 and of years subsequent to that event1 from which simple ,trinal ,fractions being reckoned1 terminate in #ahci4 #crd4--,table of the ,great ,periods which expire in #ahdj1 with remarks and illustrations2 ,division of the ,mundane period from ,creation to #ahdj1 into eleven subordinate periods or ages1 marked by perfect cycles of scientific time2 the arrival of the time of the ,end1 and of the ,restoration of ,israel4#dj ,to the latter work1 he prefixes some pertinent and pungent remarks on the modern ,theories of ,geology as opposed to the ,scriptures1 in which we entirely coincide2 and1 though our space will not permit us to enter into any discussion1 we cannot avoid remarking1 that the principle of interposing1 between the first and second verses of ,genesis1 chap4 i4--8millions of ages0--8unlimited drafts upon antiquity0--8an unutterable period0--8unnumbered ages10 c41--is wholly unwarranted by the truth and simplicity of the ,mosaic narrative1 and extremely dangerous to the authority and authenticity of the ,inspired ,record4 ,instead of demanding 8millions of ages10 therefore1 we would seriously advise ,geologists--,christian ,geologists1 at least1--to be content with the extraordinary rapidity of chemical operations and electrical developements1 within a very limited period of time1 and to endeavour to explain their ,geological phenomena in a manner more in accordance with the known chronology of the world1 to the common estimate of which must now be added nearly #aejj years on the authority of ,scripture6 ,but on this subject we must refer to the author's work1 8,season of the ,end10 pp4 viii-xiii41 and to ,morison's 8,religious ,history of ,man10 ch4 ii4 pp4 #be-df4 ,in fine1 we observe1 that the results of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's labours and discoveries are concentrated in the 8,chart of ,chronology0 and 8,essay10 and in the fourth edition of the 8,dissertation on the ,apocalypse40 ,,note ,a4 ,the number and variety of the author's proofs of this general proposition are so great1 that we can scarcely dip into a page of his chronological works without meeting them2 the following are some of the most remarkable instances4 ,from ,creation ,b4 ,c4 #edgh1--to the birth of ,enoch ,b4 ,c4 #dceg1 are #aaba years1 a number which is #ei times the cycle of #ai years1--to the ,deluge ,b4 ,c4 #cbag1 are #bbfa years1 which is #aai times or #ag weeks of the cycle of #ai1--to ,noah's ,egression from the ,ark ,b4 ,c4 #cbaf1 are #bbfb years1 which is a ,lunar cycle1 the moon fast #ae hours1--to the birth of ,arphaxad ,b4 ,c4 #cbae1 are #bbfc years1 which is the product of the ,trinal ,fractions #ca and #gc1--;and from the death of ,adam ,b4 ,c4 #dedh1 to the birth of ,arphaxad1 are #accc years1 which is the trinal fraction of #cf1 and the product of the trinal fractions #ca and #dc4 ,to the ,dedication of ,solomon's ,temple ,b4 ,c4 #ajai1--;from ,creation1 are #ddei years1 which is #ia ,jubilees or #ac cubes of #g1 or the product of the cube of the trinal fraction of #b by the trinal fraction of #c2 otherwise1 it is #ac weeks of the ,jubilee1 #ia and #ac being both trinal fractions1 as well as #cdc the week of the ,jubilee1--from the birth of ,arphaxad1 are #baif years1 which is #ab times the trinal fraction #ahc1--;from the birth of ,abraham ,b4 ,c4 #bade1 are #aabf years1 which is the sum of the trinal fractions #iic and #acc1--;from the birth of ,isaac ,b4 ,c4 #bjde1 are #ajbf years1 which is #ed times the cycle of #ai1--;from the birth of ,ishmael ,b4 ,c4 #bjei1 are #ajdj years1 which is a perfect ,lunar cycle1--and from the ,exodus ,b4 ,c4 #afci1 are #fbj years1 which is #bj times the trinal fraction #ca4 ,from ,creation1--to the foundation of ,rome ,b4 ,c4 #gec1 are #dgbe years1 which is #ae times the ,lunar cycle of #cae years1--to the taking of ,babylon by ,cyrus ,b4 ,c4 #ech1 are #didj years1 which is #bfj times the cycle of #ai1--to the taking of ,jerusalem by ,pompey ,b4 ,c4 #fc1 are #edae years1 which is #ae times the square of the cycle of #ai1--to the death of ,christ ,a4 ,d4 #cc1 are #eeaj years1 which is #bij times the cycle of #ai1--;and from the ,deluge to the death of ,christ1 are #cbdi years1 which is #i times the square of the cycle of #ai1 or the product of the squares of #c and #ai4 ,from the death of ,noah ,b4 ,c4 #bhfg1 to that of ,shem ,b4 ,c4 #bgae1 are #aeb years1 which is #h times the cycle of #ai2 thence1 to that of ,arphaxad ,b4 ,c4 #bfgg1 #ch years1 which is #b times the cycle of #ai2 and thence1 to that of ,cainan ,,ii4 ,b4 ,c4 #bfbj1 #eg years1 which is #c times the cycle of #ai1--to the birth of ,abraham1 are #gbb years1 which is #b times the square of the cycle #ai1--to the death of ,joseph ,b4 ,c4 #aghd1 are #ajhc years1 which is #c times the square of the cycle of #ai1--to the birth of ,david ,b4 ,c4 #aajj1 are #agfg years1 which is #ic cycles of #ai1--;and to the ,french ,revolution of ,a4 ,d4 #aghi1 are #dfee years1 which is #bde cycles of #ai1 or #ie ,jubilees4 ,from the flood to the death of ,salah ,b4 ,c4 #beag1 are #gjj years2 and from the death of ,noah to the same1 are #cej years4 ,from the birth of ,judah ,b4 ,c4 #aijc1 to the attempt to establish a ,christian church at ,jerusalem ,a4 ,d4 #ahdb1 are exactly #cgdd years1 which is two times the square of #ab1 added to #c times the cube of #ab4 ,from the capture of ,jerusalem by ,david ,b4 ,c4 #ajfc1 to ,a4 ,d4 #ahdb1 are exactly #bijd years1 or #b times the square of #aa1 added to #b times the cube of #aa4 ,hence1 from the birth of ,judah to the capture of ,jerusalem1 are #hdj years1 which is the product of #gj and #ab1 or of #g and #abj4 ,from the ,exodus ,b4 ,c4 #afci1 to the capture of ,jerusalem1 are #egf years1 which is #d times the square of #ab1 and to ,a4 ,d4 #ahdb1 are #cdhj years1 which is #b times #ab added to #b times the cube of #ab2 and from the entrance of ,israel into ,canaan ,b4 ,c4 #aeii1 to ,a4 ,d4 #ahdb1 are #cddj years1 which is #h times #dcj1 7see ,exodus xii4 #dj47 ,,note ,b4 ,it is utterly impossible to give our readers any correct idea of the extraordinary labour which the author must have had in the construction of these ,tables1 or of the astonishing coincidences which he has discovered in the cyclical periods of time which connect remote events in the history of the world with those which are passing under our own eyes in these latter days2 we must positively refer our readers to the works themselves1 particularly the 8,season of the ,end40 ,we shall take however one event from this work1 as an example of the rest1 namely1 the 8,accession of ,victoria10 ,a4 ,d4 #ahcg1 and show how he connects it with past history in the true system of ,chronology4 ,from the birth of ,seth1 ,b4 ,c4 #ebdi1 are #gjhe years1 which is the sum of the trinal fractions #figc1 #ia1 and #ba2 the corresponding epochs being a ,grand conjunction of the ,planets in ,a4 ,d4 #agbe1 the first year of ,general ,peace in ,a4 ,d4 #ahaf1 and the ,accession2 or1 the sum of the trinal fractions #fifc1 #ia1 and #ca1 the corresponding epochs being the ,rebellion of ,a4 ,d4 #agae1 the fall of ,prussia in ,a4 ,d4 #ahjf1 and the ,accession4 ,from the birth of ,enos ,b4 ,c4 #ejdd1 are #fhhj years1 which is the sum of the trinal fractions #fhjg and #gc4 ,from the death of ,seth ,b4 ,c4 #dccg1 are #fagc years1 which is the sum of #eicb1 or #d times the fraction #adhc1 and the fraction #bda2 the corresponding epochs1 being the ,divine defeat of the ,spanish ,armada in ,a4 ,d4 #aeif1 and the ,accession4 ,from the birth of ,methuselah ,b4 ,c4 #daib1 are #fjbh years1 which is the sum of the fractions #fjjg and #ba1 the corresponding epochs being the ,general ,peace in ,a4 ,d4 #ahaf1 and the ,accession4 ,from the birth of ,japhet ,b4 ,c4 #ccag1 are #eaec years1 which is the sum of #dhbj1 or #bj times the fraction #bda1 and #ccc1 or #c times the fraction #aaa4 ,from the ,egression of ,noah from the ,ark ,b4 ,c4 #cbaf1 are #ejeb years1 which is the sum of #diie1 or #de times the fraction #aaa1 and the fraction #eg or #c times the cycle of #ai4 ,from the death of ,eber ,b4 ,c4 #bdaf1 are #dbeb years1 which is the sum of the fractions #dafa and #ia1 the corresponding epochs being the defeat of the ,pretender at ,culloden in ,a4 ,d4 #agdf1 and the ,accession4 ,from the ,call of ,abraham ,b4 ,c4 #bjgj1 are #cijf years1 which is the sum of #chhe or #ce times the fraction #aaa and the fraction #ba1 the corresponding epochs being the ,general ,peace in ,a4 ,d4 #ahaf1 and the ,accession4 ,from the beginning of the #crd servitude of ,israel ,b4 ,c4 #adbf1 are #cbfb years1 which is the sum of #cbai1 or #bi times the fraction #aaa1 and the fraction #dc1 the corresponding epochs being the fall of ,robespierre ,a4 ,d4 #agid1 and the ,accession4 ,from the captivity in ,babylon ,b4 ,c4 #fjf1 are #bddb years1 which is #bb times the fraction #aaa1 and terminates at the epoch of the ,accession4 ,from the birth of ,christ ,b4 ,c4 #c1 are #ahci years1 which is the sum of #aggf1 or #af times the fraction #aaa1 and #fc1 or #c times the fraction #ba1 the corresponding epochs being the ,accession of ,louis ,,xvi4 in #aggd1 and the ,accession of ,victoria ,i4 ,but we must stop here1 having cited only #ab instances out of #cj given by the author1 in which the latter event is shown to be linked to great events in the former history of the world by curious and remarkable cycles of time4 ,a ,,dissertation ,,on ,,the ,,true ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,part ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,jesus ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,prophecy4 ,primeval prophecy concerning the ,messiah--,errors in the translation of it1 in different versions--,correct in the ,septuagint--,tradition of this prophecy in the ,ante and ,post ,diluvian ages--,its clearer development in the ,patriarchal ,age--,dr4 ,lamb's explanation of the word ,shiloh--,prophecy of ,balaam in the ,critarchal ,age--,predictions of ,moses and ,hannah--,the glorious revelations of the ,monarchal ,age--,the testimony of the ,psalms to the ,messiah--,explanation of the last words of ,david from ,kennicott--,application of the term ,sun to ,jehovah--,testimony of the ,prophecies to the ,messiah--,isaiah1 the ,evangelical ,prophet--,the predictions at the close of the ,monarchal and the commencement of the ,hierarchal ,age--,testimony among the ,heathen4 ,in the ,introduction to the first part of this ,dissertation1 we very shortly alluded to the tradition and prophecies concerning the first ,advent of the ,messiah1 which were prevalent in the world before the era of ,christianity4 ,that1 in consequence of the prophecies1 traces of such a tradition1 from a very remote period1 should be found among all nations1 will not be deemed improbable by those who attentively read and sincerely believe the records of ,inspiration4 ,there indeed1 we find that the first sweet note of ,jubilee which sounded in the ears of ,fallen ,man1 was the distant promise of ,redemption by the hands of a ,mediator1 announced in the ,divine prediction of the punishment to be inflicted on the ,author of ,sin by the ,seed of the woman3--8,,he shall bruise thy ,head1 and thou shalt bruise his ,heel20 ,gen4 iii4 #ae4 ,the meaning of this very remarkable passage is greatly obscured in our vulgar translation by the use of the neuter pronoun ,it 7,ipsum71 instead of the masculine ,he 7,ipse71 which clearly refers to the ,seed of the woman1 who is ,christ4 ,the ,seventy ,interpreters have correctly employed the masculine pronoun ,he 77 in the ,greek ,version2 while1 in the ,latin ,vulgate1 the feminine pronoun ,she 7,ipsa7 has very absurdly been inserted1 as if the prediction referred to the ,woman herself and not to her ,seed6 ,some have attributed this error to ,josephus2 but we do not think it is at all borne out by the passage referred to in his ,antiquities1 although it is quite evident that he was utterly ignorant of the true meaning of the prophecy4#da ,to us1 it appears to savour more of a ,rabbinical or ,roman ,catholic gloss2 be this1 however1 as it may1 it is evident that had the translators or editors of the ,latin version remembered that 8the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy10 they would not have committed such an egregious mistake4 ,with the reign of sin1 began the reign of mercy4 ,thus early was it declared that the ,messiah should come to destroy the works of the ,devil2 and thus early was it announced that the ,christ should suffer and enter into his glory6 ,all the attempts of the ,wicked ,one for ages have never been able to obliterate this first and glorious prophecy of ,god from the remembrance of the human mind4 ,onward it has passed from father to son1 and from patriarch to patriarch1 gathering fresh vigour and clearness in its descent2 brightly did it beam1 even in the ,antediluvian age1 through the righteous preaching of ,enoch and of ,noah2 and having survived the deluge1 anew did it shine forth in the ,postdiluvian age1 in the glorious anticipations of the ancient ,idumean prince1 and in the ,divine revelations vouchsafed to the great ,father of the ,jewish nation4 8,i know10 said ,job 7xix4 #be71 8that my ,redeemer liveth1 and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth40 ,again1 8to ,abraham and his seed were the promises made20 for1 ,god said not 8,and to seeds1 as of many2 but as of one1 ,and to thy seed1 which is ,christ40 ,see ,genesis xiii4 #ae2 xv4 #ah2 xviii4 #g2 xxii4 #ah2 and ,galatians iii4 #af4 ,the divine predictions concerning the person and work of the ,messiah were more clearly developed in the ,patriarchal age4 ,to ,isaac and to ,jacob1 they were at first announced in terms very similar to those in which they were conveyed to ,abraham2 ,genesis xxvi4 #c2 xxviii4 #ac2 and xxxv4 #aj4 ,but to ,israel1 was it given1 to declare to the ,twelve ,patriarchs1 while uttering his dying benediction1 the celebrated prophecy concerning ,shiloh1 which was fully verified in the ,advent of our ,saviour1 whatever may be deemed the true interpretation of the name2 ,genesis xlix4 #aj4 ,although we cannot agree with ,dr4 ,lamb1 in his theory of the existence of a ,hieroglyphic language previous to a ,phonetic one1 we think that he has struck out the real meaning of this term ,shiloh1 when he says1 8,the word is literally 1 #8who' or #8who is' 7,jelovah71 the very same word as #8,jehovah1' with the original restored4 ,thus ,jacob points out the ,messiah by a title which could be applied to no other individual1 and declared the ,divinity of our ,saviour about seventeen hundred #ahch years before his birth4 ,the three words1 7omitting which implies an attribute of omniscience7 ,alovah1 ,the ,creator1 ,jehovah1 ,the ,god of ,israel1 ,jelovah1 ,the ,promised ,messiah1 are one and the same4 ,we need no farther comment upon the #ehth verse of the #hth chapter of ,st4 ,john3 1 1 1 1 4 8,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 ,before ,abraham was ,i am40 ,see his work entitled 8,hebrew ,characters derived from ,hieroglyphics10 p4 #hf4 ,during the ,critarchal ,age1 the predictions concerning ,christ were less numerous2 but it commenced with the brilliant prophecy of the ,star which was to come out of ,jacob1 and terminated with the first announcement in ,scripture of the name of the ,messiah4 ,to ,balaam it was permitted to foresee in splendid vision1 the glory of ,israel in the latter days1 and the rise of a ,sceptre or ,king who should possess universal dominion2 see ,numbers xxiv4 #ag4 ,dr4 ,gill1 in his comment on this passage1 seems to think that the ,star which the ,eastern ,magi saw at the birth of ,christ1 is here clearly foretold1 and that the ,jews themselves were at that period in expectation of such a phenomenon4 ,that this universal ,king was to be a ,jew1 is manifestly the opinion held by the ,seventy ,interpreters2 for in their version1 the prophecy is thus rendered1 8,a star shall arise out of ,jacob1 and a man shall be raised up1 or shall raise himself up1 out of ,israel40 ,how strongly does this passage remind us of our ,saviour's own words1 when speaking of his ,mission1 he said1 8,i have power to lay down my life1 and ,i have power to take it up again20 ,john x4 #ah4 ,moses1 who had so often spoken to the children of ,israel concerning ,jehovah their ,god1 and the 8,angel of his presence10 was at last commissioned to predict the ,advent of ,christ in the following words3 8,i will raise them up a ,prophet from among their brethren1 like unto thee1 and will put my words in his mouth20 ,deuter4 xviii4 #ae4 ,to this prophecy is added an awful sanction1 to which our ,saviour plainly alluded when speaking of the unbeliever he said1 8the word that ,i have spoken1 the same shall judge him in the last day20 ,john xii4 #dh4 ,but to the mother of ,samuel1 the prophet1 was it first given to announce in holy prayer and song1 the name of the ,messiah1 the anointed of the ,lord2 for she said 8,jehovah shall judge the ends of the earth1 and he shall give strength unto our king1 and exalt the horn of his ,messiah20 #a ,samuel ii4 #aj4 ,the clearest revelations of this divine personage1 however1 were reserved for the glory of the ,monarchal ,age1 the acme of the ,levitical dispensation1 which all along prefigured the good things to come4 ,in the ,psalms written by ,david the king1 8the sweet ,psalmist of ,israel10 we find the brightest anticipations of the happiness and universality of ,christ's kingdom1 accompanied with the most distinct intimations of his estate of humiliation and exaltation4 ,we refer particularly to the #bnd ,psalm1 which speaks of him by name as the ,messiah2 the #hth1 of his assumption of our nature2 the #afth1 of his resurrection and ascension2 the #bbnd1 of his words and his feelings on the cross2 the #bdth and #fhth1 of his reception and glory in heaven2 the #djth1 of the union of his divine and human nature2 the #deth and #gbnd1 of the eternity and glory of his reign2 the #iast of his temptation2 the #igth of his adoration by the angels2 the #ajbnd and #aajth1 of his divinity1 perpetual priesthood1 and eternal duration2 the #aahth1 of his rejection by the ,jews2 the #acbnd1 of his name and office as the ,messiah2 and1 the #adfth1 of his final and everlasting dominion4 ,moreover1 in the last words of ,david1 as elucidated by the critical industry and acumen of ,dr4 ,kennicott1 we have a remarkable prophecy of the coming of ,christ1 couched in one of the most splendid and pleasing figures which can be drawn from the phenomena of the natural world3 8,and as the light of the morning1 shall arise ,jehovah the ,sun1 a morning without clouds1 with the glittering of the dew on the tender herb of the earth20 #b ,samuel xxiii4 #d4 ,in this passage of the printed ,hebrew text the word ,jehovah has been omitted2 but the corresponding words and have been preserved in the ,septuagint2 and ,dr4 ,kennicott found the word ,jehovah1 which is wanting in the printed text1 in one of the oldest ,hebrew ,,mss4 in the ,bodleian library1 marked by him ,no4 #b2 see his 8,dissertation0 entitled 8,the ,printed ,state of the ,hebrew ,text1 c40 vol4 i4 pp4 #dfh-dga4 ,as ,shin or ,sin1 in the ,hieroglyphics of ,dr4 ,lamb1 signifies the ,sun1 being the first and last letter of the ,hebrew word 1 ,shemesh1 the ,sun1 it is possible that even the term ,shiloh1 which he has so ingeniously explained1 may have originally signified the ,sun ,jelovah3 and hence1 the origin and propriety of some of the figurative and prophetical expressions to be found in the ,psalms and the ,prophets4 ,thus1 in ,psalm lxxxiv4 #aa1 8,the ,lord ,god is a ,sun and shield30 in ,isaiah xix4 #ah1 8,one shall be called the ,city of the ,sun20 xxx4 #bf3 8the light of the ,sun shall be sevenfold1 as the light of seven days1 in the day that the ,lord bindeth up the breach of his people20 lx4 #bj3 8thy ,sun shall go no more down1 neither shall thy moon withdraw itself1 for the ,lord shall be thine everlasting light20 and1 in ,malachi iv4 #b1 8,but unto you that fear my name1 shall the ,sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings40 ,almost all the predictions concerning ,christ to be found in the writings of the prophets1 were delivered to the ,jews during the ,monarchal age2 and so clearly and distinctly have some of the prophecies1 particularly those of ,isaiah1 pointed out his generation1 his person1 his office1 his character and his sufferings1 that rather than yield to conviction1 infidels have even dared to assert that the descriptions which they contain were written after the events took place6 ,this ,evangelical prophet first unfolded the true meaning of the primeval prophecy1 by announcing1 in the #gth chapter1 that he should be born of a ,virgin1 and that his name should be called ,immanuel1 or ,god with us2 by ascribing to him1 in the #ith1 the names and attributes of ,deity2 by declaring1 in the #aath1 his descent from ,david according to the flesh2 by describing in the #aath1 #cbnd1 and #fast1 his offices as a prophet1 priest and king2 by foretelling1 in the #djth1 the words and the office of his ,forerunner1 ,john the ,baptist2 in the #aath1 and #dith1 the calling of the ,gentiles to his kingdom2 and1 in the #dith1 #fjth1 and #feth1 their willingness to receive him as the ,messiah2 in the #ebnd1 and #ecrd1 his external appearance and circumstances2 in the #fth1 #hth1 and #bhth1 his unbelieving reception and final rejection by the ,jews2 in the #ecrd1 the gracious design of his sufferings1 and the striking manner of his trial1 death and burial3 and by declaring in the #ceth1 #djth1 and #eeth1 his glory as the ,almighty conqueror1 the compassionate ,saviour1 and the righteous ,judge of all2 in the #ith1 his heirship to the throne of ,david1 as the beloved king of all the true ,israel of ,god2 and in the #ceth1 #fbnd1 and #feth1 his glorious reign in the new ,jerusalem above1 in the heavenly and eternal ,zion1 as the ,king of kings and ,lord of ,lords1 the ,omnipotent ,creator1 the everlasting ,ruler1 and the immortal ,preserver of ,angels and of ,men4 ,towards the close of the ,monarchal age1 during the ,babylonish captivity1 and near the beginning of the ,hierarchal age1 many splendid predictions of the ,messiah1 were vouchsafed to the ,prophets1 for the comfort of those who mourned in ,zion for the abominations of the land and the sins of ,judah1 and for the solace of those who piously submitted to the righteous judgments of ,god4 ,thus1 in the #bcrd chapter of ,jeremiah1 we have a prophecy of the future elevation of a king of the house of ,david1 whose name should be called ,the ,lord our ,righteousness2 and in the #ccrd1 of the perpetual humanity of the final heir to ,david's throne2 in the #cdth and #cgth1 of ,ezekiel1 of the ultimate accession of the ,antitype ,david as the ,shepherd and ,prince of his people2 in the #gth of ,daniel1 of the everlasting dominion of the ,son of ,man over all the kingdoms of the world1 given to him by the ,ancient of ,days2 in the #hth and #abth1 of the opposition to the kingdom of the ,prince of ,princes1 and of the ,time of the ,end disclosed by the ,wonderful ,numberer2 in the #ith1 #ajth1 and #abth1 of the coming of the ,messiah the ,prince1 and of the ,defence of his people by ,michael the great and sole ,archangel2 in the #bnd of ,haggai1 of the ,advent of the ,desire of all nations1 and the ,glory of the ,second ,temple2 in the #crd and #fth of ,zechariah1 of the springing up1 in due time1 of the righteous servant of ,jehovah1 denominated ,the ,branch2 in the #acth1 of the mystery of the ,incarnation1 and the circumstances attending the ,crucifixion2 and1 in the #crd and #dth of ,malachi1 of the ,mission of ,john the ,baptist1 and the unexpected appearance of the 8,angel of the ,covenant0 in the ,temple at ,jerusalem4 ,in the midst of all these glorious predictions from the fall of ,adam to the close of the ,old ,testament ,canon1 comprising a period of more than #ejjj years1#db we cannot suppose that the ,heathen were left utterly ignorant of their existence and their meaning2 or1 that the people of ,god did not1 in some way or other1 make known to the nations by whom they were surrounded1 the glory of his grace and the manifestations of his eternal power and ,godhead4 ,it is certain1 indeed1 that ,jehovah never left himself without a witness to his truth1 his mercy and his goodness1 in any age of the world2 and we shall now proceed shortly to enquire by what means this testimony was begun and carried on among mankind1 by the perpetual exhibition of the natural and supernatural phenomena1 which accompanied the revelations of his will to his chosen people in all ages4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,heavens ,,and ,,the ,,earth ,,to ,,the ,,subject ,,of ,,prophecy4 #a4 ,object of the ,disposition of the ,cherubim at ,eden--,its disappearance from the earth--,the remembrance of its glory transmitted to the ,postdiluvians--,its occasional re-appearance to ,abraham1 to ,moses1 to ,israel1 to ,elijah1 and to ,isaiah--,identity of the visions of ,isaiah1 ,ezekiel1 and ,john--,similarity of the visions of ,daniel1 ,john1 the ,three ,disciples1 and ,paul--,object of these glorious representations in heaven and on earth--,known among the ,heathen1 and grafted on their religious worship--,origin of ,zabaism1 and its spread over the world4 ,the setting up of the ,cherubim1 and a ,flaming ,fire1 likened to a sword1 as the emblems of the ,divine glory and presence1 in the garden of ,eden1 after the expulsion of ,adam1 was an evidence of ,god's mercy and favour to fallen man1 and a symbolical indication of the ultimate fulfilment of the primeval prophecy2 ,gen4 iii4 #bd4 ,as ,god set the ,bow in the cloud to be a memorial of his covenant with all flesh regarding the future preservation of the earth from the waters of a flood1 so he set the ,shechinah in paradise to be a memorial of his covenant with man regarding the future destruction of his implacable enemy1 and the future restoration of himself and his posterity to innocence and happiness1 through the ,almighty power of ,him who dwelt between the ,cherubim4 ,that man was appointed to reside in the vicinity of ,eden1 and to worship before this supernatural evidence of the divine glory1 is manifest even from the very short notices of the history of the ,antediluvian world1 which now remain4 ,the sacrifice of ,abel is supposed to have been consumed by fire from the ,shechinah1 as a proof of its acceptance through faith in the promised ,saviour2 and the punishment of ,cain appears to have consisted chiefly in his banishment from the face or presence of the ,lord at ,eden4 ,there1 indeed1 did men first begin to call on the name of ,jehovah2 and thence1 no doubt1 was ,enoch first translated to the kingdom of glory4 ,the flood at last came1 and the ,shechinah disappeared from the earth2 but the remembrance of its supernal glory was preserved in the family of ,noah4 ,there was nothing1 however1 in nature with which it could be compared1 for beauty and for dazzling brightness1 but the ,sun itself1 or a ,flaming ,fire most terrible to the beholders4 ,such1 indeed1 have always been the terms of comparison used by those whom ,god hath favoured with the heavenly vision2 and such1 no doubt1 was the description of the appearance of the ,edenic ,cherubim1 given by the sons of the great ,antediluvian to their posterity4 ,in the appearance of ,jehovah to ,abraham1 the divine presence was accompanied by a flame1 a smoking furnace1 and lamps of fire1 ,gen4 xv4 #ag2 to ,moses in ,horeb1 by a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush1 ,exodus iii4 #b2 and to ,israel1 in the wilderness1 by a pillar of cloud by day1 and a pillar of fire by night1 xiii4 #ba2 at ,sinai1 by thunders and lightnings1 devouring fire1 and smoke as the smoke of a furnace1 xix4 #af1 and xxiv4 #ag2 and at the setting up of the tabernacle of the congregation1 by cloud and fire1 and the glory of the ,lord1 the ,insessor of the ,cherubim1 lx4 #cd4 ,at the destruction of the priests of ,baal1 ,god answered ,elijah#dc by fire1 #a ,kings1 xviii4 #ch2 at the dedication of ,solomon's ,temple1 the glory of the ,lord appeared with cloud and fire1 #b ,chronicles vii4 #a2 and1 in the year that ,king ,uzziah died1 ,isaiah saw the glory of ,christ1 and spake of ,him2 then was the house filled with smoke1 and ,his glory filled the temple and the whole earth2 and then was that glorious ,trisagium pronounced by the ,seraphim1 in the hearing of the prophet1 and afterwards repeated by the four ,living ,creatures in that of the beloved disciple1 which establishes for ever in the mind of the believer1 ,his eternal power and ,godhead1 ,isaiah vi4 #a-d2 ,john xii4 #da2 and ,rev4 iv4 #h4 ,in the land of ,chaldea1 by the river of ,chebar1 and in the ,temple of the ,lord at ,jerusalem1 ,ezekiel saw the glory of the ,god of ,israel1 accompanied with a great cloud and a fire infolding itself1 and a brightness about it like the rainbow2 the appearance of the ,living ,creatures1 which he knew were the ,cherubim1 was like burning coals of fire1 like the appearance of lamps1 and out of the fire went forth lightning2 and the voice of the ,almighty was like the noise of many waters1 and the earth shined with his glory1 ,ezek4 i4 x2 lxiii4 ,in his night visions at ,babylon1 ,daniel beheld the glory of the ,ancient of ,days1 having a throne like the fiery flame1 wheels as burning fire1 and a fiery stream issuing from before him1 vii4 #i2 and by the side of the river ,hiddekel1 he saw a man whose face had the appearance of lightning1 and his eyes as lamps of fire1 his arms and feet like polished brass1 and his voice like the voice of a multitude1 x4 #f4 ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john saw the glory of ,christ on the mount of transfiguration1 when his face did shine as the ,sun1 and his raiment was white as the light1 and a bright cloud overshadowed them1 ,matthew xvii4 #b1 #e2 ,paul1 at mid-day1 saw his glory as a light from heaven above the brightness of the ,sun1 ,acts xxvi4 #ac2 and he declared to the ,hebrews of that age1 as ,moses did to the children of ,israel #agjj years before him1 in language of the strongest metaphor1 that ,jehovah our ,god is a consuming fire1 ,heb4 xii4 #bi1 and ,deut4 iv4 #bd4 ,john1 who said that ,god is light and in him is no darkness at all1 and that ,christ is the ,light of the ,world1 saw1 in the ,isle of ,patmos1 his eyes as a flame of fire1 his feet like unto fine brass1 as if they burned in a furnace1 and his countenance as the ,sun shineth in his strength1 and heard his voice as the sound of many waters1 ,rev4 i4 #ad-af2 he beheld the mighty angel clothed with a cloud1 and a rainbow over his head1 and his face as it were the ,sun1 and his feet as pillars of fire1 x4 #a2 and he saw the ,faithful and ,true ,witness1 whose eyes were as a flame of fire1 and on whose head were many crowns1 who possesses the ,incommunicable ,name1 and who is called the ,word of ,god1 the ,,king ,,of ,,kings1 and the ,,lord ,,of ,,lords1 xix4 #aa-af4 ,from all the splendid and glowing imagery1 which is thus employed in ,scripture1 to shew forth the glory of ,christ1 and under which human language1 though the gift of ,god1 seems to labour and groan as under an insupportable burden1 it is manifest that ,he1 who is the brightness of his ,father's glory and the express image of his person1 hath1 by symbolical representations of himself1 both under the ,old and the ,new ,dispensations1 declared the being and attributes of ,god from the beginning of the world4 ,the ,angel of ,jehovah has1 in fact1 in all ages1 made the heavens declare the glory of ,god1 and the firmament shew forth his handy work2 in them1 he hath set a tabernacle for the ,sun1 to demonstrate the wonders of his grace2 and1 he hath ordained the moon and the stars1 not only to rule the night and direct the seasons1 but to utter all his praise in a universal language1 which he has imparted to all nations under the whole heaven2 ,deut4 iv4 #ai2 ,psalm viii4 #c2 and xix4 #c4 ,thus it appears1 that even among the heathen1 the remembrance of the true ,god and his ,son the ,redeemer1 was kept up by tradition and by symbol2 and that traces of the grand truth first announced in the primeval prophecy1 and afterwards gradually developed to ,god's chosen people at sundry times and in divers manners1 are to be found in the history of the religious worship of mankind in all ages1 and from the remotest times4 ,before the flood these traces are no doubt very obscure1 but they are not altogether obliterated4 ,soon after the deluge1 however1 was the light of the ,sun of ,righteousness bedimmed in their gross minds by that of the natural emblems of his glory2 and soon was 8the truth of ,god0 changed into 8the lie0 of the devil2 for they began to worship and serve the creature more than the ,creator1 who is ,god over all1 and blessed for ever4 ,hence1 arose the earliest and the most extensive system of idolatry ever known in the world1 the worship of the ,sun1 and the ,moon1 and all the ,host of ,heaven2 with this also was connected the worship of ,fire1 ,light1 and ,ether1 and of all those symbolical representations of these natural phenomena1 which are to be discovered in the ancient records of the ,babylonians1 ,assyrians1 ,chaldeans1 ,egyptians1 ,phenicians1 and ,persians1 as well as in the early histories or traditions of the ,chinese and the ,hindoos or ,eastern ,indians of the ,old ,continent1 the ,britons1 and the ,celts or ,gauls who overspread ,europe1 and the ,peruvians and ,mexicans or ,western ,indians of the ,new ,world4 #b4 ,the ,sun worshipped by the ,babylonians1 ,assyrians1 and ,chaldeans1 under the names of ,baal1 or ,beelsamen--,by the ,egyptians1 under the names of ,orus and ,osiris--,connection between the ,sun and ,sirius--,the ,sun and his ,satellite worshipped by the ,israelites1 under the names of ,molech and ,remphan1 ,baal1 and ,ashtaroth1 during the ,critarchal age--,the ,zabian idolatry set up at ,jerusalem in the ,monarchal age--,the partial ,reformation of ,josiah--,the ancient ,persians1 ,sun and ,fire worshippers--,origin of ,mithras--,the gods of ,phenicia1 ,elioun1 and ,adonis or ,tammuz4 ,it is of some importance to our general argument1 to refer to a few of the evidences of this universal species of idolatry1 which are still to be found in the names ascribed to the gods which these different nations worshipped4 ,among the ,babylonians1 the ,assyrians1 and the ,chaldeans1 there existed from the age of ,nimrod to the destruction of ,nineveh and ,babylon1 the worship of ,baal1 in ,hebrew ,lord1 which signifies1 astrologically speaking1 ,lord of the ,ascendant2 this term is in fact the same as 1 ,bel1 or ,belus1 1 1 or 1 and signifies the ,sun1 who is called in ,chaldee 1 1 or ,beelsamen1 the ,lord or ,master of the ,heavens1 and ,leader of the ,heavenly ,host4 ,among the ,egyptians arose1 at a period perhaps prior to1 or1 at least1 coeval with the age of ,nimrod1 the worship of ,orus and ,osiris1 and at a later period1 their attendant or identical gods1 ,isis1 ,apis1 ,serapis1 ,anubis1 c42 yea1 8all the gods of ,egypt40 ,the earliest of these is ,orus1 from the ,hebrew ,eres1 or ,heres1 the ,sun2 or from ,aur1 or ,he ,aur1 the ,light1 or ,fire1 a term also applied to the ,sun2 whence1 evidently comes the ,greek 1#dd and 1 or ,horus1 ,hora1 and ,era1 ,time1 a period of ,time1 and the beginning of ,time1 all of which are measured by the revolutions of the ,sun4 ,next comes ,osiris1 from the ,hebrew 1 ,eres#de inverted1 that is ,sere1 the ,sun1 or from and 1 ,he ,ser1 the ,prince or ,chief2 whence also1 and 1 the ,sun1 or ,sirius 7and the ,english terms ,sir1 or ,sire1 and ,sirrah71 the former denoting the ,chief1 or ,king of ,heaven1 and the latter1 his ,satellite or ,companion1 in ,hebrew 1 ,seris1 a ,double1 or himself1 as in ,hesiod1 8,opera et ,dies0 line #dag1 where he is called 2 otherwise1 the terms and may be derived from ,zeer1 ,light2 ,seher1 ,morning2 or ,zereh1 the ,east or ,sun-rising4 ,all these terms1 both in ,hebrew and ,greek1 have evidently an intimate connection with each other1 and indicate that there was originally some astronomical relation between the ,sun and ,sirius1 the largest and brightest of all the stars in the firmament4 ,the term 1 ,sirion1 indeed1 derived from 1 ,sirius1 is applied indiscriminately to every star1 because all the stars were either supposed to follow the ,sun in his daily course1 or to borrow their light from that luminary4 ,from this source1 there can be little doubt that the ,israelites1 during their period of bondage in ,egypt1 borrowed their 1 ,moloch1 or 1 ,molekem and ,milcom1 that is1 their king1 and the ,star of their god ,remphan or ,chiun 2 whence comes 1 or ,canis and ,canicula1 the ,dog-star or ,sirius1 idols of which they made to themselves figures to worship in the wilderness1 ,amos v4 #bf2 ,acts vii4 #dc4 ,this kind of idolatry appears to have been pursued with more or less obstinacy by the children of ,israel1 during the whole period of the ,critarchal and ,monarchal ages2 notwithstanding the strict prohibitions of the ,first and ,second ,commandments1 and the awful sanctions with which their promulgation was accompanied at ,mount ,sinai4 ,passing over the rebellion of the ,golden ,calf and the sin in the matter of ,baalpeor1 in the wilderness1 we find that the ,israelites forsook ,jehovah1 after the death of ,joshua and of all the elders who outlived him1 and served ,baalim1 or ,baal and ,ashtaroth1 and 1 the ,king and ,queen of ,heaven2 and as often as they repeated this iniquity1 so often were they punished for it1 by subjection to the yoke of their enemies2 ,judges ii4 #ac2 iii4 #g2 vi4 #cj2 and ix4 #df4 ,after the worship of the true ,god was set up in all its magnificence and glory in the ,temple at ,jerusalem1 how soon1 alas6 was it forgotten1 and that of ,moloch or ,milcom1 ,chemosh and ,ashtaroth adopted in its stead2 and how consoling must it have been to the real worshipper of ,jehovah1 to be informed1 that even in the worst of times1 there were #gjjj in ,israel who had not bowed the knee to ,baal2 #a ,kings1 xi4 #e2 and xix4 #ah4 ,nevertheless1 ,israel was at last cut short for his idolatry1 in making images and groves1 worshipping all the ,host of ,heaven1 and serving ,baal2 and ,judah1 being seduced by ,manasseh to commit precisely the same abominations1 was threatened with a similar captivity2 #b ,kings1 xvii4 #af2 and xxi4 #c4 ,a temporary suspension of this sentence1 however1 took place2 and a respite of forty years was granted to the house of ,judah1 because of the reform which was effected in the days of ,king ,josiah4 ,for1 he put down them that burned incense to ,baal1 to the ,sun1 and to the ,moon1 and to the ,planets1 and to all the ,host of ,heaven2#df and he took away the horses that the kings of ,judah had given to the ,sun1 and burned the chariots of the ,sun with fire2 but1 after his death1 they mocked the messengers of ,god1 and despised his words1 and misused his prophets1 until the wrath of the ,lord arose against his people1 and there was no remedy3 until1 in fact1 ,jerusalem was destroyed1 and ,judah carried captive into ,babylon2 #b ,kings xxiii4 #e2 and #b ,chronicles xxxvi4 #af4 ,among the ancient ,persians1 the worship of the ,sun and ,fire appears to have existed from a period so remote1 that no record remains of its commencement1 though there can be no doubt that it was an offshoot from the ,babylonish idolatry4 ,for ages1 it appears to have existed in ,persia1 in a state of greater purity than in ,chaldea1 if such a term can be applied to a corruption of the worship of the true ,god2 and to have been mingled with more intellectual notions of the being and attributes of ,deity1 than were to be found among other heathen nations4 ,the ,persians1 indeed1 appear to have had a more distinct idea1 though still a very obscure one1 of the method by which the human race were finally to be rescued from the power of the ,evil ,one1 and raised to a condition of purity and bliss4 ,they worshipped the ,sun under the name of ,mihr1 ,mithr1 or ,mithras2 the latter term1 according to ,mr4 ,morrison1#dg signifying the wounder or bruiser of the head1 and if derived from the ,hebrew 1 ,muthras1 ,lord of ,death1 conveying a beautiful allusion to the primeval prophecy1 and to him who1 long afterwards was declared in apocalyptic vision1 to have the keys of hell and death1 and who 8openeth and no man shutteth1 and shutteth and no man openeth0 the gates of ,paradise4 ,among the ,phenicians1 we find1 according to a fragment of their ancient historian1 ,sanchoniatho1 preserved by ,eusebius1 that one of their earlier gods was called ,elioun1 from 1 the ,most ,high1 who was also considered ,man2 and that 1 the ,heavens and the ,earth1 were generated or created by him4 ,they also worshipped the ,sun1 under the names of ,adonis and ,tammuz2 the former evidently from the ,hebrew 1 ,adonai1 ,lord2 and the latter from the name of the ,hebrew month appointed for the celebration of his orgies4 ,in the weeping for the absence1 or eclipse of ,tammuz1 ,selden sees the lamentations for ,osiris1 which originated in ,egypt1 and were observed in ,phenicia2 and in the rejoicing for his return or resuscitation1 ,parkhurst discovers a prelude to the joy of the nations at the advent of the promised ,saviour1 the true ,adonai1 or ,lord of all2#dh ,ezekiel viii4 #ad2 and #a ,john ii4 #h4 #c4 ,the gods of the ,hindoos1 ,vishnu1 ,buddha1 ,brahma1 and ,seeva1 form no ,trinity--,the theft of their names and attributes from the ,hebrew evinced by their meaning--,buddha an avatar of ,vishnu--,origin of ,fohi1 the god of the ,chinese--,druidical1 ,peruvian1 ,mexican1 and ,parsee worship--,origin of ,surya1 ,suras1 and ,asuras--,russell's citation of ,macrobius on the worship of the ,solar god--,the concentration of ,paganism4 ,proceeding farther eastward1 to nations whose origin is so remote and so involved in darkness1 that all traces of their derivation from the ,noachian stock is lost1 we find in their ancient traditions similar evidences of the truth1 buried under a mass of the grossest and most debasing idolatry4 ,in the avatars1 or transformations of ,vishnu and ,buddha1 the gods of the ,hindoos1 we perceive the awful perversion of the primeval prophecy1 and its stupid admixture with more recent revelations concerning the ,messiah1 which have been purposely mystified and defaced by the agents of the ,evil ,spirit1 in order that poor besotted mortals might be led away from the truth as it is in ,jesus4 ,but their own traditions testify against the ,hindoos1 and show1 that in not seeking to know him who had placed his witness in the physical heavens1 they were without excuse2 for when they knew ,god1 they glorified him not as ,god4 ,the names of their chief gods1 ,brahma1 ,vishnu and ,seeva1 plainly indicate their ,hebrew origin and meaning4 ,brahma signifies the great ,creator1 and is evidently derived from the word ,bra1 ,he created1 which occurs in ,genesis i4 #a1 and or 1 ,am or ,aim1 terrible2 and ,vishnu or ,veeshnu1 the ,preserver1 from the copulative ,ve or ,vau1 and 1 ,aishnu or ,ishnu1 the ,man for us2 these two1 therefore1 constitute a ,binity or ,duad1 by reason of the copulative particle between them1 and not a ,trinity or ,triad in conjunction with ,seeva1 as is generally supposed by mythologists4 ,as to the latter name1 which signifies the ,destroyer1 it is derived from 1 ,seevah1 ,storm1 or ,destruction1 or from 1 ,seeva1 the noise which accompanies it1 thus exemplifying the idea of the poor untutored ,indian1 who sees ,god only in the fearful storm1 and hears ,him only in the thunder's dreadful roar2 or1 perhaps1 from 1 ,seeva1 a dream or vain error1 an 8insubstantial pageant10 or even an idol1 which is nothing in the world4 ,the exhibition of this triple absurdity in the temples of ,hindoostan1 not like ,janus at ,rome1 with two faces1 but like ,cerberus in ,hell1 with three faces1 shows not a ,trinity1 or ,sacred ,three in ,one1 in which ,christians believe1 but a threefold exhibition of the same ,god1 as the ,creator1 the ,preserver1 and the ,destroyer1 in which the ,hindoos1 like the devils1 believe and tremble4 ,these are1 in fact1 the attributes of the true ,deity2 for ,he is ,jehovah1 and there is none else2 there is no ,god besides him2 he forms the light and creates darkness2 he makes peace and creates evil2 but1 inasmuch as 8they had not the sense to acknowledge ,god 7literally to have ,god in acknowledgment71 ,god gave them over to a senseless mind1 to do those things which are not lawful 7i4 e4 not appointed by ,god702 ,romans i4 #bh4 ,in the name of ,boodh or ,buddha1 an avatar of ,vishnu1 the principal ,god worshipped in the ,transalpine1 or ,ultra-,gangetic regions and islands of ,asia1 we again trace the early idea of a ,saviour of celestial origin4 ,this name is evidently derived from the ,hebrew or 1 ,phudah1 to deliver or redeem1 by interchange of the labials and 2 and from the same roots are derived a variety of words1 signifying either ,redemption1 or the ,price of ,redemption1 and reminding us delightfully of ,him1 who1 by his own blood entered once for all into the holy place1 having obtained eternal ,redemption for us2 ,heb4 ix4 #ab4 ,in the name of ,fohi1 the chief god1 worshipped in ,china from the earliest times1 we discover also1 by its ,hebrew origin from 1 ,phohe1 ,prince or ,governor1 the foreshadowing of ,him whom ,god sent to be a light to lighten the ,gentiles1 and the glory of his people ,israel2 ,luke ii4 #cb4 ,the ,druids of ancient ,europe were worshippers of the ,sun and ,fire1 and the name of their god was ,hesus1 most probably derived from the ,hebrew 1 ,hesus1 burns up or consumes1 emblematic of the physical objects of their devotion1 but still prefiguring the advent of ,him whose fan is in his hand1 who will thoroughly purge his floor1 and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire2 ,matt4 iii4 #ab2 and ,isa4 v4 #bd4 ,among the ,peruvians and the ,mexicans were found similar traces of ,sun and ,fire worship1 accompanied with the apparatus of the ,incas or ,children of the ,sun1 and the ,vestal or ,solar virgins1 as in ancient ,rome4 ,nor should we omit that the ,parsees1 the most learned sect among the ,hindoos1 are worshippers of the ,sun1 which is called in their language ,surya1 evidently of a similar origin with the ,greek and 2 moreover1 in their fabulous histories of the 8,war between the ,gods and the ,giants10 the spirits1 who were the worshippers or children of ,light or the ,sun1 are called ,suras1 and the demons of darkness1 ,asuras1 ,a being evidently privative in ,sanscrit as in ,greek4 ,in fine1 the names of the gods which were worshipped among the ,greeks and the ,romans1 as every classical reader knows1 carry abundant evidence of their having been borrowed from the earlier systems of idolatry already described4 ,dr4 ,russell remarks1 that 8in the #ast book of the ,saturnalia1 from the #agth to the #bcrd chapters inclusive1 ,macrobius establishes1 from the writings of the philosophers1 as well as of the poets1 that all the gods of ,assyria1 ,egypt1 and ,greece1 were mere personifications of the ,solar influence2 and1 moreover1 that all their names1 however varied1 might be resolved into some attribute of the ,sun40 ,he further states1 that all the nations of the ,east acknowledged originally but one deity1 the ,sun1 and he ingeniously accounts for the rise of ,hero-worship and ,polytheism2 he also observes that1 however the titles of the gods may be separated and distinguished from each other1 they are all plainly resolvable into those of the ,solar deity4 ,the same is to be observed of the gods of the ,romans4 ,indeed1 it is well known that the magnates of the ,pantheon1 ,apollo1 ,phbus1 ,bacchus1 ,jupiter1 c41#di were all severally addressed by the poets1 as possessing the power supposed to reside in the ,sun1 to direct the seasons of the year1 to give success to the operations of agriculture1 to decide the fates of nations1 and to influence all the affairs of men4 #d4 ,origin of the ,greek and ,latin names of the ,supreme ,god--,ingenious derivation by ,dr4 ,hales--,confutation of that given by ,francoeur in his 8,uranographie0--,origin of the ,new ,testament titles of ,christ--,citation of ,theophilus on this subject--,irrefragable proof of the ,divinity of our ,lord--,original temple of the ,sun--,connection of ,religious worship and ,astronomical observation--,antiquity of the ,hindoos and ,chinese4 ,thus it appears1 that the heathen nations have1 in all ages and countries1 borrowed the names and attributes of ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 and applied them to the absurd creations of their own imagination1 the physical objects of the world around them1 or the stupid fabrications of their own hands4 ,the origin of the name or in ,greek1 and ,jupiter in ,latin1 as applied to the supreme ,god1 appears to be distinctly traceable to the ,hebrew4 ,dr4 ,hales endeavours to deduce the former of these from the ,phenician form of 1 ,jehovah1 or ,jahoh1 which in ,greek letters is 1 or 2 and he cites the answer of the oracle of the ,clarian ,apollo1 to the enquiry 8,which of the gods is he to be reckoned1 who is called 80-- 1 4 ,learn this1 that ,,jah is greatest ,god of all4 ,this derivation is ingenious2 but it is more specious than solid4 ,the name 1 which gives its oblique cases to 1 is evidently derived from the ,hebrew 1 ,di1 the ,sufficient1 or ,self-sufficient ,one1 or1 with the relative1 1 ,sdi or ,shaddai1 ,he who is ,self-sufficient1 the ,almighty1 a ,scriptural name of ,god2 ,genesis xvii4 #a4 ,from the former comes 1 and from the latter 1#ej by the addition of the ,greek terminations4 ,the derivation of ,jupiter from ,jah pater is obvious2 while the oblique cases ,jovis1 ,jovi1 c41 clearly show their descent1 or rather theft from the ,hebrew word ,jehovah4 ,these observations on the origin of the ,greek and ,latin names of the ,supreme ,being are rendered the more necessary1 in consequence of the following most extraordinary attempt on the part of an eminent ,french writer1 to give a different1 and we hesitate not to say1 a very absurd account of their derivation4 ,m4 ,francoeur1 in his very curious and useful work on ,astronomy1 entitled 8,uranographie10 p4 #chb1 #eth edition1 says1 8,each ,,planet was denoted by a letter2 arranging these bodies in the order of their supposed distances1 these representative characters were3-- ,saturn4 ,jupiter4 ,mars4 ,the ,sun4 ,venus4 ,mercury4 ,the ,moon4 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 ,the ,sun seemed to be placed in the middle of the motions1 in order to regulate their march2 thus he governed the universe4 ,it was supposed that the planets revolved round the earth in crystalline concentric spheres4 ,the world was denoted by the extreme letters and 2 the letter 1 of the ,sun1 united to these1 formed the name 1 of the god of light1 of ,bacchus1 of ,osiris1 c42 whence was derived the words ,jvo1 ,jeova1 ,jovis1 ,jovis pater1 or ,jupiter660 ,it is a sufficient refutation of this learned derivation1 that the name of ,jehovah was known among the ,hebrews at least #ajjj years before the doctrine of the crystalline spheres was invented2 and that the answer of the ,clarian oracle itself1 instituted before the fall of ,troy1 testified its well-known antiquity4 ,the ,latin term ,deus1 ,god1 is evidently derived from the ,greek 1 by interchange of the dentals and 1 and not from or 2 and the term itself1 from 1 ,pono1 to place1 order1 or arrange1 the old form of which1 1 signifies to dispose or create4 ,this appellation1 1 the ,disposer or ,creator1 is peculiarly applicable to ,him into whose hands the ,father hath delivered all things1 and who of old created and arranged the universe2 ,john i4 #c2 and iii4 #ce4 ,theophilus1 ,bishop of ,antioch1 has given the same derivation in the following eloquent passage1 to which we can never give the spirit of the original3 8,but ,god is called 1 because he hath reposed all things on his own infallibility1 and because he created all things2 for to create1 is to originate1 and put in motion1 and work upon1 and put together1 and prepare1 and direct1 and put life into1 all things2 and he is called 1 because he rules over the whole universe1 c40#ea ,now1 our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ is perpetually called in the ,new ,testament1 1 the ,lord1 the ,disposer or ,creator2 hence1 his ,divinity is established beyond dispute2 his ,unity with the ,father is demonstrated2 and his claim to the title of the ,sun of ,righteousness1 is placed on the triple testimony of the ,heavens1 and the ,earth1 and the ,everlasting ,god4 ,from the observations of this chapter1 we draw the conclusion that all the various kinds of idolatry which have existed in the world1 can be traced to a common source1 namely1 the ,satanic substitution of the worship of the ,sun1 ,fire1 or ,light1 which was the emblem of the glory of ,god1 for the worship of the ,great ,insessor of the ,cherubim1 who dwelleth in the ,light which no man can approach unto2 whom no man hath seen1 nor can see2 and who only hath immortality4 ,we further conclude1 that the tradition respecting the ,shechinah1 or glorious emblem of his ,divine presence1 passed through the family of ,noah1 and on it was grafted the idolatrous scheme which raised a temple to the ,sun at ,babel2 that traces of the existence of this worship among ,europeans and ,asiatics1 and ,indians of both hemispheres1 from the remotest times1 are to be found in their traditions respecting the heavenly bodies1 and in the names and attributes ascribed to their false divinities2 and that the antiquity of the ,hindoos and ,chinese1 as nations1 within the limits of the true system of ,chronology1 is no more to be doubted than that of the ,babylonians1 ,assyrians1 and ,egyptians4 ,in fine1 the astronomical observations and religious worship of the former appear to have been so intimately connected1 that1 as we shall see in a subsequent chapter1 a higher degree of credence must be yielded to the ancient records or traditions of both1 than they have hitherto received among the learned world4#eb ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,traditionary ,,and ,,poetical ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #a4 ,tradition concerning the ,seventh ,age--,prophecy of the ,universal ,saviour--,traditions of the ,jews--,opinion of ,irenus and the ,christian ,church in his time--,dr4 ,russell's opinion confuted--,testimony of the ,heathen to the ,tradition of the ,seven ,ages--,digression on the ,corruptions of the ,septuagint and the ,hebrew text--,arguments against the numerical accuracy of the latter--,remarkable prophecy contained in the names of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs--,opinions of ,augustine and ,abulfarajius--,notion of ,dr4 ,isaac ,barrow--,important admission of ,eusebius--,opinion of ,ephrem ,syrus4 ,the idea that the improvement and the happiness of the human race is progressive1 and that the succeeding age is always to be superior to the present1 appears to have prevailed in every clime and in every age of the world4 ,such a sentiment seems indeed to be interwoven with our very nature and constitution2 and the words of the ,poet are true1 not only of each individual of the species1 but also of every successive generation3-- 8,hope springs eternal in the human breast1 ,man never is1 but always to be blest40 ,when we take an extensive review of the past1 we also find that there have been ages of the world previous to our own1 in which mankind enjoyed a length of days1 and a degree of innocence and happiness1 now altogether unknown4 ,all have1 in fact1 heard of the blessedness of the ,paradisaical state1 and all sigh for its return4 ,the restoration of man to this state1 has been the subject of promise1 and the theme of prophecy and song2 the sentiment has been found in all countries1 and under every ,dispensation2 and many of the ,divine appointments1 both of nature and of ,providence1 seem to have had an express reference to the accomplishment of this glorious and benignant purpose4 ,the ,septenary division of time was impressed on the human mind from the era of creation2 it was perpetuated in the ,mosaic institutions2 and a constant succession of ,septennial changes in the frame of man himself from his birth to his death1 has tended to keep alive the idea that the ,great period of the ,restoration of all things is measured by the number ,seven4 ,hence1 arose the universal opinion1 corroborated by tradition1 that the ,world was to continue for ,six successive ages1 appointed ages of trial and probation1 and that the ,seventh age would be a state of never-ending felicity and joy4 ,poets and philosophers1 always the most sanguine of our race1 have in every nation seized upon this idea1 and by the splendid efforts of their genius1 engrafted it upon the early history of their respective countries4 ,thus1 compositions which were at first admired only as the production of superior intellect1 became early incorporated with the popular creed1 and were at last admitted by all as the true records of antiquity4#ec ,the ,jews1 with whose forefathers no doubt the true ideas concerning the various ages of the world originated1 had1 as we have seen1 divided the ,grand ,interval from ,creation to the time assigned by prophecy for the coming of the ,messiah1 into six subordinate periods1 the true extent of which we have already determined4 ,more than a thousand years1 however1 before the latter event took place1 the great ,hebrew ,warrior and ,king prophesied in ,sacred ,song1 concerning the only begotten ,son of ,god1 who was to receive the ,heathen for his inheritance1 and the uttermost parts of the ,earth for his possession2 concerning ,him who was to be fairer than the children of men1 and whose throne1 like that of the ,eternal1 was to be for ever and ever2 whose dominion should be from sea to sea1 and from the river to the ends of the earth2 and before whom all kings should fall down and worship1 and whom all nations should serve and call the ,blessed and only ,potentate2 ,psalms ii41 xlv41 lxxii4 ,about three centuries later than the time of ,david1 ,isaiah received his ,divine ,commission to deliver the prophecy concerning ,him of whom ,moses and the ,prophets did write1 in which ,he was described as 8the ,wonderful ,counsellor1 the ,mighty ,god1 the ,prince of ,peace1 and the ,father of the ,future or ,everlasting ,age40#ed ,during the ,fifth or ,monarchal ,age1 therefore1 the idea had spread abroad1 not only among the ,jews1 but among all nations1 that the ,renovation of the ,world would be accomplished in the ,sixth or succeeding age1 and that the ,great ,king1 called in ,scripture1 or ,saviour1 would then set up his kingdom in eternal justice1 and establish his dominion with everlasting peace2 and nation should no longer lift up the sword against nation1 neither should they learn the ,art of ,war any more4 ,according to the ,jews1 however1 who lived in the time of our ,saviour1 the grand object of the mission of the promised ,messiah was not to be consummated till the ,seventh age1 when should commence1 to use the words of the ,apostle1 who applied them very differently1 the keeping of the eternal 8,sabbatism which remaineth for the people of ,god40 ,this notion of a ,seventh age was not entirely unknown to the ,heathen1 for we find some traces of it in their writings2 but it seems to have originated in the mysticism or glosses of those who at that period1 had made 8the word of ,god of none effect through their traditions40 ,it is of great importance to our argument1 to give some instances of this mysticism1 as it incidentally proves that the ,jews originally held the longer computation4 ,one of the reasons assigned by their ,rabbins for the tradition of the ,seven ages1 from time immemorial1 is that because the ,hebrew letter ,aleph1 which 7pointed7 stands with them for a thousand1 is found to occur six times in the #ast verse of the #ast chapter of ,genesis2 therefore1 the world is to last in its corrupt or fallen state for six thousand years2 and that then it is to be restored and purified as at the beginning6 ,another reason1 to which indeed1 we have already adverted in our ,first ,part1 is that because ,god employed six days in the work of ,creation1 and rested on the ,seventh day2 therefore1 there are to be ,seven ages of the ,world1 each containing a thousand years6 ,such notions as these appear to have been current among both ,jews and ,christians in the days of the ,apostles2 and we find them transmitted with even a higher degree of mysticism1 to the first age of ,apostolical ,succession6 ,irenus1 who flourished ,a4 ,d4 #agj1 in commenting on the number of the ,beast1 endeavours to connect the ,six ages of the world1 with the number ,six1 which occurs in the units1 tens1 and hundreds of that number1 and adds1 8,for in as many days as the world was made1 in so many thousand years is it being brought to an end04 ,and on this account1 the ,scripture says--and the heavens and the earth were finished and all their garniture2 and on the ,sixth day1 ,god finished the works which he made2 and on the ,seventh day1 ,god ceased from all his works--but this is a narration of the prototypes of things1 and a prophecy of things that shall come to pass2 for the day of the ,lord is as a thousand years3 but in ,six days the creation was finished2 it is manifest1 therefore1 that its consummation is the six thousandth year4#ee ,in this curious passage1 it is evident that the disciple of ,john1 the beloved ,apostle1 has followed the ideas of the ,jews rather than those of his inspired ,master1 and has mingled up the mystical notions of the ,rabbins with the sacred truths of ,revelation4 ,while we admit1 however1 that the followers of ,christ and his ,apostles had erroneous views respecting the ,jewish tradition1 which we have thus traced to its real source1 we cannot adopt the opinion of ,dr4 ,russell1 p4 #ajc1 vol4 i4 of his 8,connection10 that the apostles themselves wrote under the influence of such views1 or that it formed any part of their theological system1 although it entered deeply into those 8of the age which witnessed the introduction of our holy faith40 ,they wrote under the influence of that ,spirit which ,christ promised to send1 in order to lead and to guide them into all the truth2 it is impossible1 therefore1 to imagine1 that the ,apostles ,paul and ,john in their writings1 8partook of those impressions relative to the speedy arrival of the first resurrection1 and the beginning of the ,messiah's reign1 which prevailed among their countrymen20 nor1 can we agree1 as he does1 8with ,grotius1 who hesitates not to state that ,st4 ,paul thought it possible that he might be alive at the time of the general judgment10 as we see no evidence for such a statement in any part of the ,new ,testament4 ,the reply of our ,saviour1 while yet on earth1 to the inquiry put by his disciples1--8,when shall these things be1 and what the sign of thy coming1 and of the end of the world80--sufficiently points out their mistake in supposing1 as the unbelieving ,jews did1 that the first advent of the ,messiah and the consummation of all things1 were contemporaneous or approximate events3 and clearly shows that instead of the 8general judgment0 after or upon his advent1 there would only be a particular one1 namely1 the destruction of ,jerusalem by the ,romans1 and that it would be fulfilled in the experience of that generation1 for their rejection of the true ,messiah1 as the filling up of the measure of the iniquities of their fathers4 ,so much hold1 however1 had the tradition in question taken on the minds of the ,jews as a nation1 that we find the words of ,paul1 in #a ,thess4 iv4 #ae-ag1 respecting the resurrection of the dead1 and the ,second ,advent of ,christ1 were either misunderstood or misinterpreted by some of those to whom they were addressed4 ,hence1 he was obliged to address them a second time1 in the following words2 #b ,thess4 ii4 #a3 8,now we beseech you1 brethren1 by the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by our gathering together unto him1 that ye be not soon shaken in mind1 or troubled1 neither by spirit1 nor by word1 nor by letter as from us1 as that the day of ,christ is at hand40 ,the rest of the ,apostle's warning advice in this chapter1 plainly indicates that many ages were to elapse before the epoch of the ,second advent1 and the arrival of the end of the world4 ,the time1 indeed1 necessary for the fulfilment of the prophecies1 of both the ,old and ,new ,testament1 especially those contained in the books of ,daniel and the ,revelation of ,john1 must have clearly evinced to the minds of well-informed ,christians1 as well as those of the ,apostles themselves1 that many predicted events had yet to receive their accomplishment2 and1 that ,god's controversy with the nations1 and particularly with his ancient people ,israel1 required a longer interval than that which the ,judaizing teachers among them had dared to assign1 and which1 to give it greater currency1 it appears that they were desirous to father upon the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles4 ,nevertheless1 it cannot be denied that a very considerable degree of plausibility might attach to such sentiments among the early ,christians1 from the occurrence of such expressions as the following in the writings of the ,apostles3 #b ,peter iii4 #h1 8,one day is with the ,lord as a thousand years1 and a thousand years as one day40 ,this expression1 however1 merely exhibits in words suited to our ordinary conceptions1 the great truth which should ever be present to our minds1 that all time appears but as a single moment to the eternal ,jehovah1 who sees the end from the beginning1 and to whom the ideas both of space and time1 as they exist in our finite understandings1 are altogether unknown4 ,the same sublime sentiment1 similarly expressed1 is also to be found in one of the ,psalms1 the authorship of which is ascribed to ,moses1 the man of ,god3 thus1 8a thousand years in thy sight1 are but as yesterday1 when it is past1 and as a watch in the night40 ,it is evident1 therefore1 from the extreme generality of the expressions employed1 that no specific conclusion can be drawn from these and similar passages of ,scripture1 respecting the true period of the world's duration4 ,their simple intent is to convey to our minds an idea of the eternity of the ,almighty1 and they are of the same import as the following1 which proves the eternal ,divinity of our ,lord2 namely1 8,jesus ,christ1 the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever40 ,hence1 it is plain that the idea1 entertained by many divines1 of the duration of the world for a period of only ,seven thousand years1 7a period1 which1 in fact1 as we have shown in our ,first ,part1 it has already passed7 is a figment of the human imagination1 which has no foundation in real tradition or prophecy1 and which is contrary to the express revelations of ,scripture4 ,in a note to this paragraph1 consisting chiefly of references to the authors who have treated of or touched upon the opinion of ,irenus and the whole ,christian church after the ,apostolic times1 the learned reader will find sufficient ground for the belief that the longer or ,septuagint chronology was universally held by ancient writers both before and after the ,christian era4#ef ,we proceed to notice the evidence on this point1 which may be gathered from the testimony of the ,heathen4 8,the belief of this singular notion1 concerning the ,seven ages10 says ,dr4 ,russell1 p4 #gf1 vol4 i4 of his ,connection1 8has been detected in the writings of ,heathens1 ,jews1 and ,christians4 ,it is traced in the ,sybilline oracles1 in ,hesiod1 in the work ascribed to ,darius ,hystaspes the ,king of the ,medes1 and in ,hermes ,trismegistus1 the celebrated founder of ,egyptian learning and science4 ,plato quotes from ,orpheus the same mystical doctrine2 handing down to more recent times the persuasion of the first generations of the human race1 that the earth1 which was given to them for a habitation during ,six ages1 was doomed in the ,seventh to be consumed by fire40#eg ,dr4 ,russell discovers in the prevalence of these opinions and expectations1 however ill-founded and absurd they may seem1 the principal motive which actuated the ,jews about the beginning of the ,second century1 in their attempt to vitiate the most ancient of their chronicles4 8,their rejection of ,christ10 says he1 8rendered necessary an extensive change in their dates and calculations2 and if we may trust to the assertions of ,justin ,martyr and other primitive apologists for our holy faith1 we cannot doubt that their fraudulent purpose was realized to a considerable extent4 #8,i entreat you to remember1' says the ,father now named1 when addressing ,trypho the ,jew1 #8that your ,rabbis have taken away entirely many texts of ,scripture from that version which was made by the ,elders who were at the court of ,ptolemy1 in which it was declared1 that ,jesus who suffered death upon the cross was both ,god and man3 and wherein it was also predicted that he was to be crucified and submit to the power of the grave4 ,these texts1 because ,i know that your nation now rejects them1 ,i will not insist upon in the course of our inquiries1 but shall content myself with appealing to those prophecies and descriptions respecting the divine power1 which are still allowed to remain in your sacred books4' ,after quoting a passage from ,jeremiah1 which the ,christian author applies to the point in discussion1 as an argument in favour of the views adopted by the ,church1 he reminds his antagonist1 that the text now in question was still found in certain copies of the ,old ,testament which continue to be read in the ,synagogues2 for1 says he1 this portion of ,holy ,writ has been but lately expunged by your doctors2 and that on account of the unanswerable demonstration founded upon it1 in regard to the conduct of the ,jews towards ,christ1 against whom it was predicted that they would take counsel1 and afterwards put him to death40 ,archbishop ,usher1 in reference to this passage of ,justin ,martyr1 says1 in his 8,syntagma10 pp4 #dd1 #de1 that this ,father produces four testimonies concerning ,christ the ,saviour which he affirms were abstracted from the version of the ,seventy ,elders3 the second of which is still found entire in all our books1 namely1 ,jeremiah xi4 #ai4 ,but the first1 abstracted from the book of ,ezra1 chap vi41 which is testified by ,lactantius1 lib4 #d4 ,institut4 cap4 #ah1 is as follows3 ,and ,ezra said unto the people1 ,this passover is our ,saviour and our ,refuge2 and if ye did consider1 and it came up into your heart1 that we shall humiliate him in a sign1 and if afterwards ye shall believe upon him1 this place shall never be left desolate1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts2 but if ye will not believe on him1 nor hearken to his preaching1 ye shall be a laughing-stock to the ,heathen4 ,the third testimony1 which is found in ,irenus1 lib4 #e1 cap4 #bf1 is said to have been cut out of ,jeremiah3 ,but the ,lord ,god of ,israel remembered his dead who slept in the land of heaps1 and descended to them to declare unto them the good news of his salvation4 ,the fourth and last is taken from ,psalm xcv4 7or xcvi4 according to the ,hebrew7 v4 #aj1 where the reading should be1 ,declare among the ,heathen1 ,the ,lord reigned from the tree2 the words 8from the tree0 are said to have been erased by the ,jews1 although they are to be found in the ancient editions of the ,latin ,psalter1 and are cited by several ancient authors whose names and works the ,archbishop enumerates4 ,the best proof1 however1 that the ,jews have tampered with some passages of ,scripture1 is to be found in the discrepancy which exists between most of the passages which are cited in the ,new ,testament out of the ,old1 and which agree more nearly with the ,septuagint1 mutilated as it has been1 than with the present ,hebrew ,text4 ,the most striking case of this kind is to be found in the passage cited by ,paul1 ,hebrews x4 #e1 from ,psalm xl4 #f2 where instead of the words 8mine ears hast thou opened0 as in the ,hebrew1 we have 8,a body hast thou prepared me10 as in the ,septuagint4 ,the straining of commentators to make these totally different readings signify exactly the same thing is perfectly astonishing1 when we consider that the simple admission of the corruption of the ,hebrew text in this passage at once solves the difficulty6 ,another remarkable case is the passage cited by the same ,apostle1 ,romans iii4 #aj-ah1 from ,psalm xiv4 #c1 where the greater part of the quotation1 from v4 #ac to v4 #ah inclusive1 is entirely omitted in the present ,hebrew text1 but is to be found verbatim in the ,septuagint1 ,vatican edition4 ,the reason assigned by ,dr4 ,wall for its insertion in this edition1 and its omission in the ,alexandrine ,,ms41 is not at all satisfactory2 because it does not in the least account for the full quotation of the passage by the ,apostle2 it does not at all answer the question1 where did ,st4 ,paul get the verses8 ,a third case is that of the celebrated passage in ,psalm xxii4 #ag1 where1 instead of the words 8they pierced my hands and my feet10 as in the ,septuagint1 the ,hebrew has to this day1 the reading 8as a lion my hands and my feet20 but as this passage had no sense or meaning1 the ,english translators were fain to avail themselves of the reading of the ,septuagint and the ,latin ,vulgate4 ,but it is unnecessary to multiply discrepancies of this kind2 enough has been adduced to show that implicit reliance is not to be placed on the present ,hebrew text4 ,as to the discrepancy in ,gen4 ii4 #b1 between the ,hebrew and ,septuagint1 regarding the day on which 8,god ended his work10 it can only be accounted for on one or other of the following principles3 either a mistake has been committed in transcribing the ,hebrew text2 or1 a change has been wilfully introduced into that text4 ,for it is quite inconsistent with the fact1 and with the preceding context1 to say that ,god ended his work on the ,seventh day6 ,in that context1 ,gen4 i4 #ca1 we are told that 8,god saw ,,all that ,he had made1 and behold it was very good2 and the evening and the morning were the ,sixth day40 ,it is manifest that to end work on the ,seventh day1 would be to perform a part of it on that day2 and1 consequently1 the whole of the ,sabbath could not be said to have been devoted to rest1 nor wholly blessed and sanctified on this account4 ,it is easy to see that a loop-hole is thus given1 by an error in that text and in our translation1 we fear more wilful than accidental on the part of the ,jews1 to the partial observance of the ,sabbath1 and to the notion acted on by many in former ages1 and by multitudes in the present1 that it is only that part of the ,sabbath devoted to religious services in public1 which is to be accounted sacred2 the remainder of the day being devotable either to work1 to literary pursuits1 or to sensual enjoyment4 ,mankind1 both ,jews and ,christians1 has in all ages been too anxious to throw off the strict and unalterable obligation of keeping the ,sabbath holy to the ,lord2 but the true ,christian1 he who is a 8,jew inwardly10 though 8not outwardly10 feels his highest enjoyment in the ,scriptural employment of that ,holy ,day1 considering it as a foretaste and an earnest of the glorious and eternal ,sabbath in ,heaven4 ,a strong argument against the accuracy of the present ,hebrew text1 is derived1 as we have seen1 from the different accounts of the census of the ,hebrew ,patriarchs and their families1 at the epoch of their migration into ,egypt1 to be found in the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,in ,acts vii4 #ad1 we find that the martyr ,stephen1 in his defence before the ,high ,priest of the ,jews1 gives this census1 including the grandsons and great grandsons of ,joseph1 who1 as well as his sons1 had previously migrated in their father's loins1 as amounting in all to 8threescore and fifteen10 or 8#ge souls40 ,on referring to the ,mosaic narrative1 ,gen4 xlvi4 #bg1 we find1 according to the ,hebrew text1 that this census amounts only to 8threescore and ten10 or 8#gj souls20 but1 according to the ,septuagint1 that it amounts to 8#ge souls40 ,here1 assuredly1 the authority of the ,septuagint must be reckoned superior to that of the ,hebrew text1 inasmuch as that version not only perfectly agrees as to the census with the reckoning of ,st4 ,stephen in the place now cited1 but in the same chapter1 it enumerates the names of the three grandsons and the two great grandsons of ,joseph1 making up the five persons whose names are totally omitted in the ,hebrew4 ,the census of the ,septuagint also agrees with that of the ,new ,testament1 in other places where ,moses has occasion to remind the ,israelites of the smallness of their number when their fathers went down into ,egypt2 see ,exodus i4 #e2 and ,deuteronomy x4 #bb4 ,it is proper to remark1 however1 that the number in the latter citation agrees with the ,hebrew1 in the ,vatican edition of the ,septuagint2 but1 not in the ,alexandrine codex1 or the ,grabian edition1 where it is correctly given as in the other places which have been cited4 ,dr4 ,hales1 in his 8,analysis10 vol4 ii4 p4 #aei1 has grievously mistaken the composition of the census in question2 for1 he includes in it1 the wives of ,jacob's sons1 amounting to nine persons in all1 according to his account4 ,the ,sacred text1 however1 includes ,jacob1 and ,joseph with his two sons1 in the number #gj2 now if the nine wives were also included1 the census would amount to the number #gi2 because the names of the #gj men are all distinctly enumerated even in the ,hebrew text itself4 ,in order1 therefore1 to get rid of this difficulty1 and reduce the number from #gi to #ge1 the ,dr4 excludes the four men just mentioned1 and includes the nine women1 whether they are kindred or not kindred6 ,his solution1 however1 does not agree with the express words of ,scripture1 which1 in fact1 excludes the women1 the words being according to the ,septuagint1 1 8without the wives20 and includes the men1 in the number #ge1 the words of ,stephen being 8his father ,jacob1 and all his kindred10 descended1 1 8out of his loins40 ,in reference to the numerical statements of the ,hebrew text1 the disingenuity of modern commentators renders the following remarks necessary1 for the sake of truth and common sense4 ,it is well known that the numbers which occur in the ,old ,testament are always expressed in words at length1 and not in abridged characters or arithmetical symbols2 hence1 the possibility of transcribers mistaking one character or symbol for another1 in consequence of the similarity of the letters1 is completely removed4 ,it is an unfair inference1 therefore1 to say1 because the ,jews employed the letters of their alphabet to denote numbers in their later writings1 or to indicate chapters and verses in the sacred writings1 and because some of these letters are extremely similar1 though they denote very different numbers2 that numerical errors might arise from this cause in those parts of the ,scriptures where no such arithmetical characters or symbols were ever used4 ,among unfair reasoners of this class1 may also be placed those who maintain that all knowledge of the ancient ,hebrew is lost1 because forsooth it has been preserved in ,chaldaic characters1 and mystified by the ,masoretic points6 ,it does not follow1 however1 that the language itself is lost1 because the characters are changed in their form1 even supposing this to be the fact4 ,if so1 then we might as well assert that the ,english language is lost1 because we have changed the ,old ,english character for the ,roman2 that it has become utterly unintelligible to us by the change2 or that the accented1 punctuated and misspelt words of ,orthopists must render every genuine ,english word of doubtful meaning6 ,moreover1 it has likewise been gravely said that because some ,hebraists choose to assert that the same word in ,hebrew signifies both to bless and to curse2 therefore1 all or most of the words of that language may be translated so as to mean any thing you please2 this is at least the conclusion which would be drawn from such random assertions on the part of ,lexicon writers and compilers of ,hebrew dictionaries4 ,we ask such persons1 if they know any thing at all of ,hebrew1 to arrange the names of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs in one line1 so as to form a ,hebrew sentence1 and to try whether1 among the 8thousand and one0 varieties of rendering of which it is affirmed the words are capable1 it will not bear the following translation1 demonstrative of the fact that the ,antediluvians were1 during the days of ,god's grace1 and in addition to the tradition of ,enoch's prophecy1 taught the knowledge of a ,divine ,saviour1 even by the symbolical names which the ,patriarchs were directed by the ,spirit of ,god1 to impose upon their children3-- #84--8,man was appointed miserable and wretched1 but the blessed ,god shall descend1 teaching that his death shall send to the afflicted1 ,rest40 ,the consolation which a sentence like this was calculated to give to the ,patriarch ,noah1 and to his family1 in the near prospect of the 8end of the world that then was10 may be more easily conceived than described2 nor let it be forgotten that in continuation of this ,divine nomenclature1 the ,patriarch was instructed to call his son1 who was to be the progenitor of the wonderful ,being whose coming is predicted in this sentence1 by the name of ,shem1 in prophetic anticipation of the future development of that glorious ,name1 in which both ,jews and ,gentiles were afterwards to trust1 and on which the salvation of both worlds was suspended4 ,to return from this lengthened digression2 it is manifest that there is great reason to suspect that the numbers contained in the ,hebrew text which have reference to dates and to the age of the world1 have been systematically and extensively altered4 ,dr4 ,russell cites a passage from the celebrated ,abulfarajius1 in which he asserts that the ,jews1 believing it to have been foretold that the ,messiah was to have been sent in the last times1 altered the chronology in order to be able to produce a reason or apology for their rejection of ,jesus ,christ4 ,thus they made it appear by their new computation1 that ,christ was manifested in the very beginning of the fifth millennium1 near to the middle of the period to which the duration of the earth was to be limited1 that is1 according to their glosses upon ,scripture1 not more than #gjjj years in all4 ,but the computation of the ,septuagint1 he observes1 showed that ,christ did actually come in the sixth millenary age of the world2 the very time at which the prediction of the ,old ,testament led mankind to expect his advent4 ,the learned ,dr4 refers also to the candid ,augustine1 who states that the ,jews were suspected of having corrupted their copies of the ancient ,scriptures1 and particularly of having altered the generations and lives of the ,antediluvian patriarchs1 out of dislike to the ,christians1 and in order to weaken the authority of the ,septuagint1 which was used not only in their churches during divine service1 but also in their writings and controversies with the ,jews4 ,though ,augustine saw that the temptation to vitiate the sacred text lay with the ,rabbins1 and that the ,greek translators had no inducement to alter the original1 he was unwilling to believe that either party could have intentionally altered the ,scriptures2 thinking it more probable that the differences between the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint1 had originated in the wish entertained by an early transcriber1 to render the generations of the patriarchs more natural1 and less disproportioned to the total length of their lives4#eh ,this disproportion1 as we have remarked in our ,first ,part1 was only partial in the ,hebrew1 and the discrepancy in this respect is a strong argument in favour of the more natural proportion of the ,septuagint4 ,but men in all ages have endeavoured to reduce the ,antediluvian standard of human life and generation1 without regard to the actual record of ,holy ,scripture4 ,some curious specimens of reasoning on this point will be found in ,usher's 8,syntagma10 cap4 ii4 p4 #ac et seq4 ,what1 for instance1 can be more ridiculous than the following remark on this subject by the learned ,dr4 ,isaac ,barrow8 8,no one10 says he1 8can pretend to assert1 as a certainty1 that the age of ,methusalem ,methuselah6 himself1 who lived a thousand years wanting one1 #iii instead of #ifi6 was really longer than that of a man1 who now dies at a hundred6 ,why might not the ,sun1 being then younger and more vigorous1 have performed his periods ten times sooner than at this time80 ,see his 8,geometrical ,lectures10 translated by ,stone1 #agce4 ,credat ,judus6 ,dr4 ,russell states that ,augustine was not aware that #djj years had elapsed from the time when the ,septuagint version was made1 before any discrepancy between the ,greek and the ,hebrew ,scriptures was ever imagined to exist2 and that there flourished in that interval1 the chronographers ,demetrius1 ,philo1 ,euphorus1 ,eupolemus1 and ,polyhistor1 in whose writings1 compiled from the books of ,moses1 we find the events1 numbers1 dates and proper names1 agreeing with the ,septuagint1 but differing from the modern ,hebrew4 ,the ignorance of this early ,father in reference to these writers1 though it were admitted1 for which however we see no good reason1 and his want of reference to the works of ,josephus1 form no ground of objection whatever to the facts of the case2 nor can we conclude from his silence regarding their testimony that he was not biassed in favour of the ,jewish system of chronology in consequence of the high authority of ,jerome in the ,christian ,church4 ,dr4 ,russell gives a very full and clear account of the manner in which this system originated4 ,he states that the publication of the ,seder ,olam ,rabba in ,a4,d4 #acj1 may with certainty be regarded as the epoch at which the ,jews altered their genealogies and changed the dates of the great events which are recorded in their ,sacred ,books2 and that ,theophilus1 bishop of ,antioch1 was the first ,christian chronologer who attempted to compute the age of the world from the facts and dates only which are contained in the ,bible4 ,he judiciously remarks that the bishop must have possessed a copy of the ,hebrew ,scriptures or at least of the ,pentateuch1 which had escaped the innovations of the ,jews2 for his dates of the deluge and the birth of ,abraham differ from both the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint4#ei ,moreover1 we find that ,eusebius1 in the middle of the fourth century1 who was well aware of the discrepancies between the ,hebrew and the ,septuagint in the matter of chronology1 still writes as follows3 8,on all sides therefore the version of the ,seventy1 being demonstrated to have been translated from an ancient1 as it appears1 and a correct copy of the ,hebrew1 we have with reason made use of it in the present chronography1 and the more especially since the church of ,christ spread through the whole world adheres to it alone1 the ,apostles and disciples of our ,saviour having from the beginning delivered that it is to be used40#fj ,dr4 ,kennicott1 in his 8,dissertatio ,generalis10 ,sect4 #hc1 p4 #cg1 also cites the words of ,ephrem ,syrus1 who flourished near the end of the same century1 in which he charges the ,jews with having abstracted #fjj years from the generations of the ,antediluvian patriarchs in order that their own books might not convict them concerning the coming of ,christ1 who had been predicted to appear for the deliverance of mankind after #eejj years4 #b4 ,description of the ,ages of the ,world from ,hesiod--,error of ,newton--,the ,golden ,age corresponds to the ,antediluvian--,the ,silver to the ,postdiluvian--,the ,brazen1 ,heroic and ,iron ages1 to the ,patriarchal1 ,critarchal and ,monarchal--,these ages relate chiefly to ,greece--,references to ,scripture history in all--,the ,sixth or ,cuman age corresponds to the ,hierarchal--,wisdom of the ,heathens--,their expectation of a ,divine ,instructor--,socrates1 ,plato1 ,eupolis1 ,virgil1 and others1 anticipate his glorious ,advent--,the close of the ,sixth age indicates the arrival of the ,seventh1 or the return of the ,golden age4 ,the ,greek and ,roman ,poets borrowed their sublime ideas concerning the ,ages of the ,world1 from the ,sacred writings and traditions of the ,jews2 and alas6 they transmuted the fine gold of ,mount ,sion into the base metal of ,helicon and ,parnassus4 ,hence arose the ,poetical appellations of the first ,six ages which are to be found in the most ancient and celebrated writings of the ,heathen4 ,the distinct recognition of the ,seventh age appears not to have been very general1 at least among the poets2 or rather1 it seems to have been frequently confounded or identified with the ,sixth age4 ,the following1 however1 is an enumeration of the ,poetical ages which is clearly to be traced in the writings of the oldest authors2 to each1 we have added the names of the corresponding ,scriptural ,ages1 for the sake of comparison and connection4 ,first1 the ,golden ,age which corresponds to the ,antediluvian2 ,second1 the ,silver ,age1 to the ,postdiluvian2 ,third1 the ,brazen ,age1 to the ,patriarchal2 ,fourth1 the ,heroic ,age1 to the ,critarchal2 ,fifth1 the ,iron ,age1 to the ,monarchal2 and ,sixth1 the ,last or ,cuman ,age1 to the ,hierarchal4 ,in this enumeration1 we do not mean1 of course1 to convey the idea that each of the ,poetical ,ages is precisely limited by the epochs which serve to fix and determine the ,scriptural ,ages of the ,jews2 but merely to indicate that there is such a connection between them as serves to prove their common origin1 and to establish the chronology of both on a secure and authentic foundation4 ,there seems1 however1 to our mind1 such a striking analogy between the real and the feigned events ascribed in history to the different periods above mentioned1 as to justify us in drawing the parallelism close1 and in allotting to the various ages of the world1 the appellations which have been ingeniously assigned to them by the poets and historians of ,greece and ,rome4 ,one of the oldest ,heathen writers1 whose authentic works have reached our times1 is the poet ,hesiod1 who1 according to some authorities1 was the contemporary of ,homer1 and who1 according to ,mr4 ,clinton1 flourished from #hei to #hbd ,b4 ,c4 ,his description of the ,six ,ages contained in the poem entitled 1 or ,works and ,days1 is in many parts unquestionably borrowed from ,scripture ,history4 ,dr4 ,hales has advanced and defended this opinion in his 8,analysis10 vol4 i4 pp4 #ch-df2 after having shewn1 in pp4 #ce-ch1 that ,sir ,isaac ,newton has mistaken1 and consequently misrepresented ,hesiod's ages1 in his 8,chronology of ,ancient ,kingdoms10 by confounding the word 1 a race1 employed by the poet to denote an age1 with 1 the usual word for a generation2 and that this error has not only deranged all his dates of ,grecian history1 but has vitiated his entire system of ancient chronology4 ,with the opinions of ,dr4 ,hales on the subject of ,hesiod's ,ages of the ,world1 we in general coincide2 but we think that he has neither carried out the above mentioned analogy sufficiently far1 nor applied it in so clear and distinct a manner as he might have done1 to the illustration of the connection between ,sacred and ,profane ,chronology4 ,it may be of some importance1 therefore1 to enlarge a little upon this interesting point4 ,the description of the ,first or ,golden ,age given in the ,works and ,days1 extends from v4 #ajh to v4 #abf1fa and as ,dr4 ,hales justly remarks1 bears no relation at all to ,grecian history4 ,it refers to the time when 8,the immortal gods and mortal men were as members of the same family1 and 77 partook of the same likeness2 when ,saturn 71 quasi 1 ,time7 reigned in ,heaven1 and men lived as gods1 with minds free from care1 without labour and sorrow1 or the feebleness of old age2 and always the same 7 7 in strength and activity1 they enjoyed continual feasting1 free from all evils1 rolling in wealth1 and beloved by the blessed gods2 they died as overcome by sleep2 to them1 all things were good2 and the fertile field spontaneously brought forth varied and abundant fruit2 seeking only their own ease1 they mingled their operations with innumerable pleasures2 and when 77 the green sod covered their bodies1 they became good angels1 by the will of mighty ,jove1 and were confined to the earth1 as the guardians of mortal men2 they became observers of good and bad actions1 and inhabiting the aerial regions1 they everywhere roamed through the earth1 the dispensers of riches2 such indeed was the royal honour which they obtained40 ,this description is a curious admixture of the traditions concerning the ,antediluvian age to be found in the early history of all ancient nations1 and of the lofty but extravagant imaginings of the ,poet derived from the absurd mythology of ancient ,greece4 ,it evidently alludes to the creation of man in the likeness of ,god1 and to the ,sacred communion which ,adam held with his ,creator in the garden of ,eden2 to the wonderful length of human life1 amounting in the case of the ,patriarchs1 in general1 to nearly a thousand years1 when indeed ,time might be said to reign1 and ,death for ages to be disappointed of his prey2 to the generation of sons and daughters to a late period of the lives of mankind2 and to the piety of the righteous generations of the line of ,seth1 who were called the 8,sons of ,god10 some of whom had communion with ,god1 and received peculiar marks of his favour4 ,the description of the 8royal honour0 of the happy dead1 seems to have had its origin also in the ,scripture record of the frequent appearance of angels in the likeness of men in the ,postdiluvian and ,patriarchal ages1 and of the promises which ,god gave to ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob1 regarding the number1 the wealth and the glory of their seed2 and of the appearance of ,samuel to ,saul1 when he predicted his speedy fall and admittance to ,hades3 of the divine appearance to ,solomon1 when he was promised riches and honour1 so that no king was like to him3 and of the divine vision of the young man in ,samaria1 who saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about ,elisha3 with many others of the very singular and preternatural phenomena which were divinely vouchsafed to the chosen people of ,god in all ages1 before that in which the ,poet himself flourished4 ,hesiod is also cited by ,josephus among the ancient writers who before his time recorded that the men of the first age of the world lived a thousand years2 but ,dr4 ,hales observes that this statement is 8no where to be found in his present extant works40 ,the description of the ,second or ,silver age1 extends from v4 #abg to v4 #adb1 and refers to the time after the flood1 when as the ,poet says1 8the men were much inferior to those of the ,golden age1 being unlike them both in body and mind2 then1 indeed1 the boy of a hundred years was brought up by his careful mother1 as a child1 passing much of his time at home2 but when he grew up and reached the age of puberty1 his life was speedily shortened1 being embittered by ignorance2 for they manifested injurious pride towards each other1 and refused to serve the immortal gods1 or to sacrifice at their sacred altars1 which was the customary rite among civilized people2 these1 therefore1 ,jupiter the son of ,saturn buried1 being incensed because they honoured not the blessed gods who inhabit ,olympus2 and when the green turf had covered their bodies1 then the blessed dead confined to the earth1 were called ,secondary angels2 thus1 they also had their share of honour40 ,this description contains internal proof that it refers to the ,postdiluvian age1 in opposition to the sentiments of some modern writers1 who have supposed that the ,golden age referred solely to the ,paradisaical state1 and the ,silver age to that which immediately succeeded it4 ,the ,golden age must have evidently included the ,post-,paradisaical state1 because the ,poet contemplates men as mortal1 which they had become in consequence of their loss of perfect innocence1 and speaks of them as having increased in numbers1 or in other words1 become 8multiplied on the face of the earth10 which took place only after the expulsion of the great progenitors of the race from ,paradise4 ,the ,silver age must have been after the flood1 because the usual period of human life had not been diminished till after that event1 but had in fact been rather increased just immediately before it1 as in the case of ,methuselah2 and ,noah himself the connecting link of both worlds1 was longer lived than ,adam4 ,moreover1 the ,poet's account of the ,antepaidogonian age of mankind1 corresponds in a very remarkable degree to the statements of the ,septuagint1 the ,samaritan ,text1 and ,josephus1 on this point1 and proves almost to a demonstration that the ,hebrew ,text originally contained the longer computation2 for the traditions concerning the ,postdiluvian age were1 of course1 known to ,hesiod1 about ,six centuries before the ,septuagint was in existence4 ,the causes assigned by the poet1 for the shortening of human life1 seem clearly to refer to the breaking up of the ecclesiastical polity of ,nimrod at ,babel2 and the destruction of the impious1 to the later event1 the overthrow of the 8cities of the plain10 and the formation of the ,lake ,asphaltites4 ,the distinction drawn between the fate of the good1 and the fate of the bad in this age1 evidently refers to the selection of a few among mankind1 as the depositories of ,sacred ,revelation1 and to the appointment of others as the friends of ,god1 and the ,fathers of the faithful to all generations4 ,such statements as these plainly indicate a belief in the immortality of the soul1 or1 at least1 its existence after death in a separate state1 and forcibly remind us of the argument which our ,saviour held with the ,sadducees1 in proof of the resurrection of the dead3 8,have ye not read in the book of ,moses1 how in the bush ,god spake to him1 saying1 ,i am the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob8 ,he is not the ,god of the dead1 but the ,god of the living3 ye1 therefore1 do greatly err20 ,mark xii4 #bf4 ,the conclusion was indeed manifest2 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob are still alive1 as to their souls2 therefore1 their souls are immortal4 ,because ,god lives1 they live also2 for he is still their ,god4 ,but life and immortality were brought to light by the ,gospel2 and because ,christ rose from the dead1 they shall also rise from the dead2 for he has become the first-fruits of them that slept4 ,from the preceding remarks1 it is evident that ,dr4 ,hales is in error1 both when he limits the 8termination of the ,silver age to the days of ,peleg20 and when he refers the latter clause of the ,poet's description to the 8first and purest ,patriarchs of this age20 for the upright and blessed ,job lived in the latter part of it2 and the divinely honoured ,abraham left ,ur of the ,chaldees at its close4 ,that ,hesiod's description of the three subsequent ages appears to relate entirely to the history of ,greece1 is the opinion of ,dr4 ,hales4 ,without disputing the general accuracy of this opinion1 we still think that we can perceive traces of the history of other countries4 ,the allusions to ,scripture are1 it is true1 more obscure in this part of the poem2 but they are not wholly imperceptible4 ,indeed1 the ingenuity of the 8cunningly devised fables0 which it contains1 would not be deemed complete without the admixture of some sacred truth1 without the addition of some egregious perversion of the ,inspired records4 ,the description of the ,third or ,brazen age1 extends from v4 #adc to v4 #aee1 and refers to the time when the men1 8wholly unlike those of the ,silver age1 were strong and mighty in the use of the spear1 rejoicing in war and deeds of rapacity2 they ate not 77 the food of culture1 but1 unyielding in their disposition1 they had minds as hard as adamant2 possessing immense force and unpolished hands1 nature furnished them with powerful limbs1 from the shoulders downwards2 they had brazen armour1 brazen houses1 and they worked in brass2 for iron was not yet in use2 these1 indeed1 slain by their own hands1 went to the dark domains of gloomy ,pluto1 unrecorded in song2 for sable death seized them1 though mighty in strength1 and they left the shining light of the ,sun40 ,this passage seems very clearly to describe the state of the world in the days of ,abraham4 ,the battle of the four kings against five in the ,vale of ,siddim 7,destruction71 the slaughter of the kings and the sacking of their cities1 the capture of ,lot and all his family and property1 as recorded in ,genesis xiv41 is a sufficient proof of the warlike and rapacious character of this age2 and then1 no doubt1 originated the migration of those marauding parties which1 proceeding from ,assyria1 ,phenicia1 and ,egypt1 spread themselves over ,greece and her islands for colonization and settlement1 and founded the early kingdoms of ,sicyon and ,argos4 ,the testimony of the ,greek historians ,herodotus and ,thucydides1 respecting the state of society during this period1 confirms the description of the ,poet2 and1 according to ,dr4 ,hales1 the rape of ,io1 the daughter of ,inachus1 which was followed more than a century afterwards by that of ,europa1 the daughter of ,agenor1 king of ,tyre1 are instances of the wicked conduct of those whom ,jove is reported to have sent a flood to destroy1 at the close of the ,brazen age4 ,dr4 ,hales1 however1 is in error when he refers this flood to the age of ,deucalion2 it appears more clearly to belong to that of ,ogyges1 who was earlier than ,deucalion by more than two centuries1 and in whose reign1 according to ,dr4 ,russell1#fb the inhabitants of ,botia were compelled to leave the plains of their native country1 which was that of our poet1 and to seek an asylum in the mountains of ,attica4 ,the description of the hardihood of the men of the ,brazen age corresponds also to that of the ,king of ,egypt1 when he expressed his fears concerning the increase of the children of ,israel4 ,the very weak argument of ,sir ,isaac ,newton against the longer computation1 which he draws from the speech of ,pharaoh1 ,exodus i4 #i1 respecting ,egypt being 8thinly peopled0 before the birth of ,moses1 is very satisfactorily answered by ,dr4 ,hales in his explanation of the succeeding verse2 8,analysis10 p4 #hh4 ,the correct translation1 however1 of the former verse1 according to the ,septuagint1 which appears to have retained the true meaning of the passage1 renders even ,dr4 ,hales' explanation unnecessary4 ,thus1 8,and he said to his nation1 ,behold the race of the sons of ,israel is a great multitude1 and their 7bodily7 strength is greater than ours60 ,this observation will appear both natural and just1 when we consider that the ,egyptians1 as a nation1 must have by this time reached a degree of luxury and refinement1 the consequences of extensive empire and early civilization1 which rendered them more effeminate or less robust than the hardy sons of ,israel4 ,the dread1 therefore1 of the increase of such a nation1 which they held in cruel bondage1 and which1 though vastly fewer in numbers1 was greatly superior to their own in individual and personal strength1 was a sufficient reason for the precautionary policy announced from the throne1 by which the rigour of the bondage of the ,israelites was to be increased1 in the expectation of thus diminishing their numbers4 ,this policy1 however1 having failed1 the king resorted to one still more cruel and sanguinary2 but the very cause which he had assigned as a reason for the adoption of cruel measures towards an unoffending race1 was wisely ordained1 so as to render those measures completely abortive2 and1 we thus perceive1 from its acknowledged truth1 an additional force and beauty1 in the simple defence made before the king1 by those heroic females who bid defiance to his wrath1 by refusing to become the detestable instruments of his cruelty2 ,exod4 i4 #ai4 ,that the ,greeks from a very early period were distinguished from other nations by the use of ,brazen ,armour is well known2 and it is remarkable that in ,scripture prophecy this characteristic is selected by the ,spirit of ,god to point out the nation to which it belongs1 and to predict the rise of that ,universal empire which it once maintained over all the kingdoms of the known world4 ,in the description of the different parts of the great ,image which ,king ,nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream1 ,daniel ii4 #ca-de1 and which prefigured the four ,great ,monarchies or ,empires of antiquity1 we find the ,assyrian or ,babylonian ,empire denoted by the head of gold1 the ,medo-,persian by the breast and arms of silver1 the ,,greek or ,macedonian by the belly and thighs of ,,brass1 and the ,roman by the legs and feet of iron4 ,moreover1 the ,greeks are commonly denominated by ,homer in his ,iliad1 the 1 or ,brazen-coated ,achaians1 that is1 wearing brazen coats of mail2 and they are described in ,herodotus1 according to the words of the oracle1 as 1 or men glittering in ,brazen armour4 ,hence1 it may be truly said with the poet1 that they lived in brazen houses1 and performed their works in brass2 for1 they spent all their time in deeds of arms1 perpetually seeking to increase their wealth1 and to form new settlements1 at the cost of the native inhabitants of the soil1 the natural consequence of such predatory incursions was premature death in battle2 and until they had gained a complete footing in ,greece1 by a series of splendid victories1 it could not be supposed that their names would be transmitted to posterity with renown4 ,thus the hosts of original adventurers belonging to this age1 according to the poet1 descended to the grave1 7pro 171 without name and without fame1 receiving no share of honour like the men of the former ages1 but sinking into irretrievable oblivion1 both in this world1 and in the world of souls4 ,the description of the ,fourth or ,heroic age1 which ,dr4 ,hales remarks is included by ,ovid in the ,brazen age1 extends from v4 #aeg to v4 #agd1 and refers to the time when the men 8spread over the boundless earth1 were more upright and more just than those of the former age1 and received the name of ,demigods2 these also1 calamitous war and tremendous battle destroyed2 some before the seven-gated ,thebes1 in the territories of ,cadmus1 fighting for the wealth of dipus3 but others before the walls of ,troy1 having been transported across the broad sea in ships1 on account of the fair-haired ,helen3 to the former1 death brought final destruction2 to the latter1 father ,jupiter1 the son of ,saturn1 having granted life and a settlement apart from mankind1 he planted them at the ends of the earth1 far from the immortal gods1 where ,saturn reigns their king2 and these happy heroes1 having minds free from cares1 dwell in the ,islands of the ,blessed1 near the deep deep ,ocean2 to them1 the fertile soil produces ripe fruit1 as sweet as honey1 three seasons of the year40 ,in this description there seems to be a very considerable want of incident1 when we compare it with the history of ,greece during the ,heroic age4 ,for1 it was in this age1 that the ,kingdom of ,athens was founded2 that the flood of ,deucalion took place2 and that the chief founders of the ,greek nation made their descent into the country itself1 namely1 ,danaus1 ,pelasgus1 ,cadmus and ,pelops4 ,it was in this age also1 that the events most celebrated in history and poetry took place2 such as1 the birth and the labours of ,hercules2 the expedition of the ,argonauts2 the wars at ,thebes and the fall of ,troy1 which the poet has particularly noticed2 the ,return of the ,heraclid2 and the olic and ,ionic ,migrations4 ,the meagreness of detail in this portion of the poem1 therefore1 would lead us to adopt the opinion of many critics1 that it has not reached us in a perfect but in a fragmentary state2 enough of it1 however1 remains to enable us to determine the limits of the poetical ages4 ,we have seen that the flood of ,ogyges was the event which1 according to the testimony of the ancients1 terminated the ,brazen age1 and of course1 formed the commencement of the ,heroic age2 now1 according to the testimony of ,julius ,africanus and others1 this event was coeval with the ,exodus from ,egypt2 and1 according to the testimony of ,eratosthenes and others1 as expiscated by ,mr4 ,clinton1 the ,ionic migration was a few years earlier than the foundation of ,solomon's temple1 and may1 therefore1 be considered as the event which terminated the ,heroic age1 and not the fall of ,troy1 as stated by ,dr4 ,hales1 which1 according to the best authorities1 occurred about a century and a-half before the ,scriptural era in question4 ,no shorter period than this at least would be sufficient to settle all the mighty events which resulted from the 1 or multitude of evils springing from the ,trojan war1 and the final catastrophe of the ancient city of ,priam2 and in no less a time1 would the heroes who survived this great event1 and who went in quest of new settlements and peace1 far from the scenes of strife1 be able1 in the name and power of their posterity1 to build cities and plant vineyards1 and to form new states and create dynasties in foreign lands4 8,tant molis erat ,romanam condere gentem40 ,the description of the men of this age as 8divine10 and the idea of giving to heroes the name of ,demigods1 thus commingling earth and heaven1 seems to have originated in the ,sacred history of the wars of the ,israelites in ,canaan1 at the beginning and during the progress of the ,critarchal age4 ,the remarkable interpositions of ,providence which accompanied this people1 under the guidance of ,moses in the wilderness1 under the command of ,joshua in the promised land1 and under the government of the ,judges when settled there1 would lead all the ,heathen nations around them to ascribe to their leaders more than mortal power2 hence would naturally arise the title of demigod4 ,moreover1 the history of the transactions recorded in 8the book of the wars of ,jehovah0 7,numbers xxi4 #ad71 of which no doubt our poet had 8heard by the hearing of the ear10 would inspire him with feelings and language similar to that which the ,philistines uttered when they heard that the ,israelites had brought the ark of ,god into their camp3 8,woe unto us6 who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty ,gods8 these are the ,gods that smote the ,egyptians with all the plagues of the wilderness20 7#a ,sam4 iv4 #h74 ,the extraordinary exertions of the ,judges to deliver their countrymen from a foreign yoke1 roused and assisted as they always were by the hand of ,god1 might well strike terror into the hearts of their enemies1 and give rise to the name and the notion of their being of supernatural origin4 ,for instance1 the remarkable atmospheric and celestial phenomena which occurred under the leadership of ,joshua1 when 8the ,lord cast great stones from heaven0 upon the enemy1 and when1 at the voice of a man1 the ,sun and ,moon 8stood still0 in the heavens for 8a whole day10 would not be soon forgotten among the ,heathen2 because 8there was no day like that before it or after it1 for the ,lord fought for ,israel20 7,josh4 x4 #ac1 #ad74 ,again1 we are told in the song of ,deborah and ,barak1 that 8the stars fought from heaven2 the stars in their courses1 fought against ,sisera20 and when we consider that the ,heathen worshipped the heavenly bodies1 including the stars1 as divinities1 we see how the idea of gods and demigods fighting the battles of men1 would naturally arise in their minds from the recital of such a song as this2 and we can thus trace the origin of the mythological machinery which is so finely wrought and so eloquently described in the pages of ,heathen poesy4 ,in like manner1 we find that the description of the settlement of the 8,happy ,heroes in the ,islands of the ,blest10 at the close of this age1 savours strongly of the lofty ideas and the poetic language to be found in the prophecies concerning the future happiness of ,god's chosen people4 ,the establishment of the ,israelites in the promised land1 so long the subject of prophecy1 was no doubt the great prototype1 which the ,poet had in his 8mind's eye0 in this description2 and the fame of ,god's gracious dealings with them having spread abroad throughout the whole world1 was no doubt the inciting cause which led mankind in general to think of improving their condition1 and to make those frequent descents and migrations into other countries1 which were so common in this and the preceding age4 ,our ,poet had no doubt heard of the blessing of ,jacob1 which predicted the coming of ,shiloh and the happiness of the tribe of ,judah1 who1 as its representative1 should 8wash his robe in wine1 and his cloak in the blood of grapes20 and whose 8eyes should sparkle with wine1 and whose teeth should be whiter than milk20 also1 the felicity of the tribe of ,joseph1 who1 in like manner1 should be blessed 8with blessings of heaven above1 and blessings of the earth beneath1 blessings of the breasts and of the matrix1 and blessings of his progenitors1 which should prevail beyond the everlasting hills40#fc ,but the ,song and the ,blessing of ,moses1 which belonged to a later age1 and which heightened the expectations of the twelve tribes by a clearer revelation1 were still more likely to have reached the poet's ears through the traditions of those early times4 ,from the former1 he would learn that the 8,lord's portion is his people20 and 8,jacob the lot of his inheritance20 that 8the ,lord alone did lead them10 and 8there was no strange god with them20 that 8he made ,israel ride on the high places of the earth1 that he might eat the increase of the fields2 and he made him to suck honey out of the rock1 and oil out of the flinty rock2 butter of kine1 and milk of sheep1 with fat of lambs1 and rams of the breed of ,bashan1 and goats1 with the fat of kidneys of wheat2 and he drank the pure blood of the grape20 ,deut4 xxxii4 #ab-ad4 ,by the latter1 he would be informed that ,jehovah 8was ,king in ,jeshurun1 when the heads of the people1 the tribes of ,israel were gathered together20 that 8the land0 of ,joseph was ,blessed of the ,lord1 8for the precious things of heaven1 for the dew1 and for the deep that coucheth beneath2 and for the precious fruits of the changes of the ,sun1 and for the precious things produced by the month1 and for the chief things of the ancient mountains1 and for the precious things of the lasting hills1 and for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof1 and for the good will of him that dwelt in the ,bush20 that 8there is none like unto the ,god of ,jeshurun1 he who rideth upon the heaven thy helper1 even the most glorious of the sky20 and that 8,israel should dwell alone3 the fountain of ,jacob should be in a land of corn and wine2 and his heaven should drop down dew40 ,in the contemplation of such a glorious prospect1 he might be led to say with the great lawgiver himself3 8,happy art thou1 ,o ,israel3 who is like unto thee1 ,o people1 saved by the ,jehovah1 who is the shield of thy help1 and the sword of thy excellency60 ,deut4 xxxiii4 #e1 #ac1 #bf4 ,truly as the poet said 8the ,eternal 71 ,time without end7 now reigns their ,king40 ,the sudden transition of the ,poet from the description of the ,fourth age1 to that of the ,fifth1 with his rapid glance at the ,sixth1 which extends from v4 #agd to v4 #bja1 shows that his mind must have been wrought up to a great pitch of feeling and sublimity1 in reflecting on the glorious deeds of the past age1 and the splendid anticipations of the future4 ,with the description of the ,fifth or ,iron age in which he himself lived1 we cannot but deeply sympathise1 feeling as we do that it has returned in our own days1 and that its features are precisely the same as those which now characterize this age of ,bronze4#fd 8,oh6 how ,i wish10 says he1 8that ,i had not lived in the ,fifth age 7 71 but had either died before it1 or lived after it2 for1 now indeed is the ,iron age2 and they will rest neither day nor night from labour and misery1 corrupting each other2 but the gods shall give them unutterable sorrows2 still even to these shall good and evil be intermingled2 but ,jupiter shall destroy the men of this age1 for they shall become grey-headed soon after their birth2 because the father will not live in unity with his children1 nor the children with the father2 the guest with his host1 nor the friend with his companion2 and the brother will be no longer affectionate1 as in former ages2 and soon shall they dishonour their parents growing old2 then also shall the wicked attack them1 speaking cruel words1 and not fearing the wrath of the gods2 nor shall the lawless then yield to their aged parents the rewards of their education2 but one shall destroy the city of another2 and no favour shall be shown to the pious1 or the just1 or the good2 but they will rather honour the evildoer1 and encourage injustice2 nor shall there be any justice or modesty in their hands2 and the wicked man shall injure the good1 addressing him with hard speeches1 and even be guilty of perjury2 and croaking envy of hateful countenance1 rejoicing in evil1 shall pursue the whole race of miserable mortals2 and then shall blushing ,modesty and indignant ,virtue1 clothed in their white robes1 having forsaken mankind1 pass from the spacious earth to ,olympus1 to mingle with the immortal gods2 then shall they leave direful woes to mortal men2 and there shall be no help for the evil40 ,in this description1 the ,poet1 who1 according to the best authorities1 lived about the end of the first century of the ,iron age1 seems to have partly borrowed his description from the sacred poetry of the ,jews1 and having himself experienced the evils of injustice at the hands of his own kindred1 to have partly anticipated the wickedness of the age1 in a fine prophetic vein4 ,solomon1 with whose glorious reign the ,monarchal or ,iron age began1 uttered sentiments concerning the wicked1 to which the ideas of our poet have a striking similarity3 8,for they10 said he1 8sleep not1 except they have done mischief2 and their sleep is taken away1 unless they cause some to fall4 ,for they eat the bread of wickedness1 and drink the wine of violence20 ,prov4 iv4 #af1 #ag4 ,the following passages in the book of ,proverbs1 to which we shall only refer1 with others which might be cited1 would almost lead us to imagine that ,hesiod had been familiar with the writings of ,solomon3 ,prov4 i4 #aa-ai2 v4 #c-ad2 vi4 #af-ai2 ix4 #ac-ah2 xxiii4 #bg-ce2 xxiv4 #a1 #b1 #ae-bb2 and xxx4 #aa-bc2 but in the psalms of ,david1 we find a more vivid and sustained description of the wickedness of the wicked1 and one to which that of the ,poet bears a more marked similarity than any of the passages yet cited3 thus1 8,the fool hath said in his heart1 there is no ,god4 ,they have corrupted themselves1 they have done abominable works1 there is none that doeth good1 there is not even one4 ,the ,lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men1 to see if there were any that did understand1 or seek after ,god4 ,they are all gone out of the way1 they are together become useless1 there is none that doeth good1 no not one4 ,their throat is an open sepulchre2 with their tongues they have used deceit2 the poison of asps is under their lips3 whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness3 their feet are swift to shed blood3 destruction and misery are in their ways3 and the way of peace they have not known3 there is no fear of ,god before their eyes40 ,psalm xiv41 according to the ,septuagint4 ,when we consider that even on the lowest computation1 the poet ,hesiod must have preceded the prophet ,micah1 by at least #ajj years1 we cannot but be struck also with the similarity of their descriptions of this age in which they both lived1 and we cannot but admit that the description of the former written as it is in the future tense1 partakes strongly of the character of inspiration4 8,the good man10 says the latter1 8is perished out of the earth3 and there is none upright among men3 they all lie in wait for blood2 they hunt every man his brother with a net4 ,that they may do evil with both hands earnestly1 the prince asketh1 and the judge asketh for a reward2 and the great man1 he uttereth his mischievous desire3 so they wrap it up4 ,the best of them is a brier1 the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge3 the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh2 now shall be their perplexity4 ,trust ye not in a friend1 put ye not confidence in a guide3 keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom4 ,for the son dishonoureth the father1 the daughter riseth up against her mother1 the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law2 a man's enemies are the men of his own house20 ,micah4 vii4 #b-f4fe ,this passage1 which was frequently appropriated by our ,saviour when on earth1 as describing the effects of his ,mission upon the wicked1 to whom the ,gospel is the savour of death unto death1 7,matt4 x4 #ba1 #ce1 #cf2 ,luke xii4 #ec and xxi4 #af17 was eminently descriptive of the ,iron or ,monarchal age1 from its beginning to its end1 ,hesiod1 ,micah and ,ezekiel1 as well as all the prophets1 being ,judges2 7,ezek4 xxii4 #f-ac2 and #bi-ca74 ,the ,poet's description of envy is strikingly just1 and is manifested in a powerful degree in every unregenerate human heart2 and to their shame be it said1 it is not completely rooted out of the hearts even of ,christians1 till death has done its part3 see the confession and exclamation of ,paul1 and the pointed description of ,james1 to which the heart of every one must fully respond3 ,rom4 #ah-be2 ,james iv4 #a-e4 ,the idea of the flight of ,modesty and ,virtue to heaven1 leaving nothing but sorrows behind them1 is also conceived in the finest vein of true poetry1 which is always correct in its descriptions2 nor is there any remedy for the evil until 7as the ,poet perhaps said1 had we his works entire17 the return of the ,golden age1 when earth shall be as heaven4 ,with regard to the ,sixth age1 it is true1 as ,dr4 ,hales remarks1 that ,hesiod does not expressly announce that it shall succeed the ,iron age1 nor that it should be a state of regeneration or a revival of the ,golden age2 but his language strongly implies that it would be superior to the ,fifth age1 inasmuch as he earnestly expresses his wish that it had been his lot to have lived after the latter1 in the words 4 ,moreover1 in his address to his brother ,persa1 we find a description of the happy effects which would result from doing justice1 extending from v4 #bbe to v4 #bcg2 and this description corresponds exactly to the language used by the poets of the succeeding age1 in describing the return of the ,golden age at the close of the ,sixth3 thus1 8,but they who grant strict justice to strangers and citizens1 and depart not in the least from equity1 shall have a flourishing city1 and flourishing people within its walls2 and peace1 the nurse of the young1 shall dwell in the land2 and ,jupiter who sees afar1 shall never bring upon them the horrors of war2 neither shall famine or destruction annoy men strictly just2 to them also the earth shall bring forth plenteous subsistence2 and on the mountains1 the pines shall produce apples at the top1 and honey at the middle2 and the fleece-bearing sheep shall be laden with wool2 and wives shall give birth to children like their parents2 and they shall flourish among the good with perpetual bloom2 and there shall be no need of navigation2 for the fertile ground shall produce all manner of fruit40 ,it is to the poets and other writers of the ,sixth age itself1 however1 that we are to look for the prophetic anticipations of the glorious event which was to illuminate its close4 ,at the beginning of this age1 flourished the ,seven ,wise ,men of ,greece1 whose laconic1 but excellent aphorisms1 indicated the approach of better times4 ,to them we owe1 according to ,plato1 the celebrated maxim 1--,know thyself2 but even to know himself was more than man could attain1 without a revelation from heaven2--how much more necessary was it1 therefore1 that the knowledge of the everlasting ,god should emanate from the same source6 ,accordingly1 we find in the ,scriptures1 the following maxim perpetually inculcated1 which is as much above that of the ,seven ,sages1 as the ,heavens are above the earth4 8,the fear of the ,lord is the highest wisdom20#ff to which we may add1 with ,solomon1 ,david1 and ,job1 who all uttered the same aphorism--8,and to depart from evil is understanding20 7,prov4 i4 #g2 ,psalm cxi4 #aj2 and ,job xxviii4 #bh47 and it is easy to give it the laconic form1 if this be any recommendation to the admirers of the wisdom of the ,heathen1 who prefer to drink at their muddy streams1 and neglect the fountain of truth2 for we have only to say 1--,know ,god2 and we concentrate in these two words1 all that is necessary for man's happiness1 both in this world1 and that which is to come3 8,and this is life eternal1 that they might know thee1 the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ whom thou hast sent20 ,john xviii4 #c4 ,he indeed1 who knows ,god1 knows himself also2 for he knows that in the sight of ,god1 he is 8wretched1 and miserable1 and poor1 and blind1 and naked20 and that he must buy of ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ1 8gold tried in the fire10 that he may be rich2 and 8white raiment10 that he may be clothed1 and that the shame of his nakedness may not appear2 and 8eye-salve0 to anoint his eyes1 that he may see2 ,rev4 iii4 #ag1 #ah4 ,when a century and a-half of the ,sixth age had passed away1 arose ,socrates1 the wisest of all the ,greeks1 who1 as ,cicero remarks1 brought philosophy down from heaven to earth1 and taught all that man could know about ,divine things1 which1 according to his own confession1 was positively nothing1 with the exception of some obscure ideas which he had learned from primitive tradition4 ,he indeed appears to have had just views of man's ignorance1 and according to ,plato1 his illustrious disciple1 who survived his master half a century1 he considered that there was no real way of finding out the truth concerning ,god1 but by a revelation from ,heaven1 by the hand of a ,divine ,messenger4 ,this appears evident1 both from some passages in ,plato's ,dialogue1 entitled the 8,phdo10 and from the following remarkable passage in that entitled the 8,second ,alcibiades2 or1 of ,prayer10 which we copy from the #bnd vol4 of ,dr4 ,hales's 8,analysis10 p4 #abca4 8,,socrates4--,we must needs wait then1 ,alcibiades1 until we can learn how we ought to behave toward ,god and men4 ,,alcibiades4--,when shall this time come1 ,socrates8 and who shall be the instructor8 for ,i long to see this man 7 7 whosoever he is4 ,,socrates4--,he it is who careth for thee 7 72 and ,i think1 that as ,minerva in ,homer 7,iliad #e1 #abg7 removed the mist from the eyes of ,diomedes1 that he might well know both gods and men2 so it is necessary in the first place1 that ,he should remove the mist from your soul that is now attached thereto2 and next that ,he should apply the means by which you shall know both good and evil in future2 for now indeed you seem not to be able4 ,,alcibiades4--,let him remove the mist1 or whatever else it is1 since ,i am prepared to decline none of his directions1 whosoever this man is1 7 ' 71 provided ,i may be able to become better4 ,,socrates4--,truly that same person 77 hath a wonderful regard for thee4 ,,alcibiades4--,i think then1 the best way will be to postpone sacrificing until that time4 ,,socrates4--,you think right1 for it is safer than to run so great a risk of sacrificing improperly4 ,,alcibiades4--,then indeed1 shall we give to ,,the ,,gods crowns and other legitimate offerings1 when ,i see that day coming1 and it will come in no long time1 ,,the ,,gods willing40 ,from the same work1 to which we have been so much indebted1 we cannot avoid extracting the following lines to the same purport1 taken from the ,hymn of ,eupolis1 another disciple of ,socrates1 as translated by ,wesley1 not the founder of ,methodism1 but his father1 ,dr4 ,hales remarks3-- 8,and yet1 a greater ,hero far 7,unless great ,socrates could err7 ,shall rise to bless1 some future day1 ,and teach to live1 and teach to pray40 ,dr4 ,hales has also given1 at p4 #acgh1 the following striking description from ,plato1 of the sufferings of the ,,just ,,one1 and of the reception he should meet with from a heedless and ungrateful world4 8,he shall be stripped of every possession1 except his virtue2 stigmatized as wicked1 at a time when he exhibits the strongest proofs of goodness2 endowed with patience to resist every temptation1 and reverse of fortune1 but inflexibly maintaining his integrity2 not ostentatious of his good qualities1 but desiring to be good rather than to seem so4 ,in fine the recompense which the ,,just ,,one so disposed 7 71 as ,i said1 shall receive from the world is this2 he shall be scourged1 tortured1 bound1 deprived of his eyes1 71 1 1 71 and at length1 having suffered all sorts of evils1 he shall be crucified 7 72 ,works vol4 ii4 p4 #cfa1 #cfb1 ,edit4 ,serrani40 ,he adds1 8,plato who travelled into ,egypt1 unquestionably collected this singular character and sufferings1 of the ,,just ,,one1 from the ,hebrew ,scriptures1 of the ,psalms1 ,isaiah1 ,daniel1 and ,zechariah1 with the last of whom1 he was nearly contemporary40 ,as the time1 the long-expected1 and eagerly-wished for time1 drew nigh1 when the ,messiah was to appear1 and as 7the 7 the consummation of the ages hastened on1 we find that the expectations of the ,heathen for this ,divine ,instructor1 this mighty ,king and ,saviour1 increased in magnitude and intensity1--a certain proof that the arrival of the ,seventh1 or the return of the ,golden age1 was the subject of their calculation1 as well as the theme of their song4 ,on this subject we need only refer to the works of ,virgil1 who flourished ,b4,c4 #dj1 in the reign of ,augustus ,csar1 and particularly to the celebrated ,eclogue entitled 8,pollio10 in which he gives a condensed summary of the prophetic anticipations of all preceding poets and philosophers from the days of ,hesiod to his own4 ,to those who may not have viewed the fourth ,eclogue in this light1 the following extract of a poem so well known1 may not be unacceptable3-- 8,now the last age of ,cumic song has come3 ,a cycle vast of ages new appears2 ,virtue returns1 and ,saturn's former reign3 ,now a new race descends from lofty heaven4 ,o chaste ,lucina1 hail the coming prince1 ,who shall the death of ,iron rule#fg behold1 ,and resurrection of the ,golden age3 ,for in this age1 the ,great ,apollo reigns4 ,this glorious year1 ,o ,pollio1 is thine2 ,and now the vast lunations are begun4 ,this year1 if any trace of crime remain1 ,with its destruction1 fear for ever flies4 ,that prince1 on earth1 the life of gods shall lead1 ,heroes with gods in council he shall see1 ,and they with wonder shall behold his deeds3 ,while with paternal sway1 the world he rules4 ,o1 prince6 to thee spontaneous earth shall bring ,her early fruits1 and sweetest smelling shrubs1 ,on velvet flowers thy infant feet shall tread2 ,before thy face1 the serpent shall succumb1 ,and poisoned herbs their baneful power shall lose3 ,the ,rose of ,sharon everywhere shall spring4 ,in early youth thou shalt delight to read ,the praise of heroes1 and thy father's deeds1 ,and all that tends to form the virtuous mind2 ,soon shall the fields be to the harvest white1 ,and prickly thorns be changed to blushing vines1 ,while honey sweet the knotty oak shall yield4 ,yet traces of man's early sin shall rise1 ,and lead him to renew his toils at sea1 ,to wall his towns1 and cultivate the ground4 ,again1 the ,argonauts shall skim the main2 ,again1 the ,theban war shall be begun2 ,again1 to ,troy1 shall ,peleus' son descend40 ,this description has a manifest reference to ,hesiod's account of the different ages of the world1 and forms a complete supplement to that interesting relic of antiquity4 ,here we trace the last1 or ,sybilline age1 in which ,hesiod wished he had lived1 the commencement of a great succession of ages1 the return of the virgin ,nemesis or ,astra1 the ,goddess of ,justice1 whom we have denominated ,virtue1 and who fled at the close of the ,iron age2 the return of ,saturn's reign1 which was to begin with the ,seventh1 or ,golden age revived2 and the reign of ,apollo1 who was the representative of the ,solar deity1 and the reviver of all things4 ,the humanity and the divinity of the expected prince1 is strangely shadowed forth by the poet1 in his allusion to his intercourse with gods1 demigods and heroes1 according to the ,greek mythology4 ,the misapplication1 however1 of the ,cuman or ,sybilline prophecies1 which were evidently borrowed or stolen from the ,hebrew ,scriptures1 to the expected son1 of ,pollio according to some1 or of ,augustus according to others1 is a proof that the time of our ,saviour's advent at the close of the ,sixth age was known to be near2 and that while there were some who1 like aged ,simeon1 waited for the consolation of ,israel2 or1 like ,anna1 the prophetess1 departed not from the temple at ,jerusalem1 in earnest expectation of ,him who suddenly came to it1 and gladdened their eyes2 so there were some even among the ,heathen who1 like ,virgil1 had heard of the expected ,saviour1 and who gladly hailed his approach1 although they were mistaken as to the signs of his coming1 and were ignorant of the distinguishing characteristics by which he was to be known4 ,it can scarcely be doubted indeed1 that in this ,eclogue1 ,virgil had the prophecy of ,isaiah in his mind1 in which the ,messiah is described as a 8rod out of the stem of ,jesse1 and a ,branch out of his roots10 and which he might have even read in the ,greek version of the ,seventy4 ,the following are some of its more striking points of similarity3 8,with righteousness he shall judge the poor1 and convince the meek of the earth3 and he shall smite the earth with the word of his mouth1 and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked4 ,the wolf also shall feed with the lamb1 and the leopard shall lie down with the kid2 and the young calf1 and the bull1 and the lion shall feed together2 and a little child shall lead them4 ,and the ox and the bear shall feed together2 and their young ones shall be together3 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox4 ,and an infant shall put his hand on the holes of asps1 and on the nest of young asps4 ,they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain3 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea20 ,isaiah xi4 #a-i2 taken partly from the ,septuagint4 ,in a similar passage of the same prophet1 which is perhaps still more to be admired on account of the richness of its promises to the people of ,god1 and its striking resemblance to some passages in the book of ,revelation1 we find a very singular remark which seems1 to our dark and finite understandings1 to mar the beauty of the description2 we refer to ,isaiah lxv4 #ag-be4 ,at v4 #bj1 the prophet says1 8but the sinner1 being a hundred years old shall be accursed20 but for this sentence1 we should have taken the whole passage for a figurative description of the happiness of the heavenly state allotted for the righteous after death4 ,in imitation1 perhaps of this singular passage1 our poet introduces into his description of the renewal of the ,golden age1 the acute remarks with which the preceding extract terminates1 and in which it seems as if he had anticipated the wars which have since desolated ,christendom4#fh ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,errors ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,chronographers4 #a4 ,authority of the ,scripture texts superior to that of the ancient chronographers--,the testimony of the latter chiefly in favour of the ,septuagint--,the testimonies of ,josephus1 ,theophilus1 ,africanus1 ,eusebius1 and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle selected for examination--,table ,i4 ,containing their statements relating to the ,first age of the world--,errors of ,josephus--,corruption of his text--,mr4 ,cunninghame's detection of his blunders in regard to the first age--,his discovery of the truth from the titulary statements of the first and second books of ,josephus--,his explanation of the ,jewish fraud to which this author appears to have been accessory--,error of ,theophilus1 and accuracy of ,africanus in this age--,similar error of ,eusebius and ,syncellus1 and accuracy of ,epiphanius and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle4 ,although the chronology of the ,septuagint receives the strongest confirmation from the writings of the ancient chronographers1 it must not be concealed that some of them have committed very strange and unaccountable errors in the computation of the different ages of the world2 while1 the works of others have come down to us in such an imperfect and corrupted state1 that implicit dependance cannot be placed in the chronographical statements which they now contain4 ,the latter remark is peculiarly applicable to the writings of ,josephus1 whose authority1 notwithstanding all his errors1 has been followed by many modern chronologers in preference even to that of the sacred ,scriptures4 ,surely the question of chronology lies between the ,hebrew text and the ,septuagint version1 and not between either of these and the works of the chronographers whether ancient or modern4 ,by a fair examination1 however1 of their ,sacred ,chronology1 we shall find that the testimony of the oldest and best chronographers is almost entirely in favour of the chronology of the ,septuagint1 and that wherever they differ from it in their works1 they commit errors which in general1 can easily be detected and accounted for1 unless the passages in question have been so entirely vitiated by the wilful mistakes of transcribers as to render it impossible to determine what were the real and actual statements of the author4 ,we shall select for this purpose1 the names of five authors who possess the greatest influence among the learned on the subject of chronography1 and whose statements are more or less followed by all later writers on the same subject3 namely1 ,josephus ,a4,d4 #ij1 ,theophilus ,a4,d4 #ahj1 ,africanus ,a4,d4 #bbj1 ,eusebius ,a4,d4 #cae1 and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle4#gj ,the names of these chronographers have been particularly selected indeed1 and their statements tabulated by ,mr4 ,clinton himself1 as the best authorities1 at least so far as regards the first two ages of the world4 ,we do not follow him1 however1 in placing their statements on a level with those of the ancient texts and versions of ,scripture2 but we class them together as possessing the next claim to our attention4 ,the following table1 which for the sake of comparison1 is marked by the same number as the corresponding table in our first ,part1 contains the ,antepaidogonian ages of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs1 and the ,extent of the ,first age of the world according to each chronographer3 ,,table ,i4 ,,antediluvian ,,josephus4 ,,theophilus4 ,,africanus4 ,,eusebius4 ,,pasch4 ,,patriarchs4 ,,chron4 ,a4,p4 ,a4,p4 ages4 ,a4,p4 ages4 ,a4,p4 ,a4,p4 ages4 ages4 ages4 ,from ,creation ,adam #bcj #bcj #bcj #bcj #bcj ,seth #bje #bje #bje #bje #bje ,enos #aij #aij #aij #aij #aij ,cainan #agj #agj #agj #agj #agj ,mahalaleel #afe #afe #afe #afe #afe ,jared #afb #afb #afb #afb #afb ,enoch #afe #afe #afe #afe #afe ,methuselah #ahg 99#afg #ahg 99#afg #ahg ,lamech 99#ahb #ahh #ahh #ahh #ahh ,noah #ejj #ejj #ejj #ejj #ejj ,to the ,flood #ajj #ajj #ajj #ajj #ajj -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ,,first ,,age #bbef #bbdb #bbfb #bbdb #bbfb ,besides their respective statements above tabulated1 these chronographers generally give in their works some additional statements which1 with some exceptions1 serve to rectify their errors1 and to corroborate and confirm the true chronology4 ,josephus1 however1 in the present text1 is made to say that the period from ,adam to the flood is #bfef years2 whereas the summation of the ,antepaidogonian ages gives only #bbef years6 ,on this point1 some advocates of the ,hebrew chronology argue that the original number was #afef years1 and that has been put for 1 or two thousand for a thousand2 but this is mere assertion2 for it is just as easy to say that the original number was #bbef years1 and that has been put for 1 or six hundred for two hundred4 ,now the proof that the latter assertion is the true one1 is that the number #bbef agrees entirely with the summation of the numbers given in detail2 whereas the number #afef does not agree1 and must consequently be erroneous4 ,moreover1 there are some ,,ms4 copies of ,josephus in which we find the true reading 1 or two thousand two hundred and fifty six years2 and this reading is also to be found in some ancient authors who have followed ,josephus in chronology1 such as1 ,eutychius ,alexandrinus1 ,josephus ,christianus1 ,anianus ,asceta1 c4#ga ,a few various readings relating to the ,antepaidogonian ages are also to be found in the different ,,mss4 to which we have referred1 but they are of minor importance and not sufficient to invalidate the authenticity of the tabular numbers4 ,the same may be said of his statements regarding the ,postpaidogonian ages and whole lives2 but as the chronology does not depend on these statements1 it is unnecessary to make them the subject of discussion4 ,it is a very remarkable thing that ,josephus differs here from the ,septuagint only in the ,antepaidogonian age of ,lamech1 and that in this point he agrees with the ,hebrew text4 ,nor are we aware of the existence of any various reading which would lead us to suppose that it had been otherwise in the text of ,josephus4 ,this circumstance alone1 though there be many others1 would almost lead us to conclude1 with ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 ,preface to his 8,synopsis10 p4 vii41 8that the corruption of the ,chronology must have taken place at an earlier period0 than is commonly supposed by the learned4 ,he believes 8it to have been in the interval between our ,lord's death and the beginning of the ,jewish war4 ,this allows more than #cj years for the purpose1 which is quite sufficient40 ,he also conceives 8that it must have been well known to ,josephus1 and the end for which it was done20 and he adds1 8,it was1 however1 yet of too recent an origin for him to venture upon the bold experiment of openly substituting it the corrupted chronology for the universal chronology of his own1 as well as other nations1 and the ,christian church1 and therefore he has introduced both schemes1 namely1 the short and the long computation1 in such a manner as to perplex and utterly confuse the whole subject1 and to draw from some of our most learned men1 the acknowledgment that his chronology is involved in hopeless obscurity40 ,the following explanation of the discrepancy between ,josephus and the ,septuagint in regard to the ,antepaidogonian age of ,lamech will be to the general reader more satisfactory than that to which we referred in our first ,part1 p4 #bc4 8,josephus1 who in all the other ,antediluvian generations follows the ,greek1 does in this of ,lamech follow the ,hebrew1 and the effect of it is1 that his ,diluvian period from ,creation is #bbef1 while that of the best copies of the ,seventy1 and of ,demetrius1 is #bbfb years4 ,this difference of #f years1 therefore1 goes through his whole ,chronology4 ,at the beginning of the #ast book of his ,antiquities that is in the ,title to the ,book he tells us1 that it contains a period of #chcc years1 to which1 adding the #f years above mentioned to make it accord with the ,greek chronology of ,demetrius1 the sum is #chci years4 ,if the reader will next turn to the ,table in the ,fulness of the ,times1 p4 #cd1 he will see that this period of #chci years1 measures exactly the interval1 from ,creation1 to the end of the year ,b4,c4 #afdj1 when the children of ,israel left ,egypt4 ,now as it is in the nature of things impossible that this most remarkable coincidence should have been unknown to ,josephus1 the necessary and the legitimate conclusion is1 that the above period of #chcc years is his authentic chronology from ,creation to the ,exodus4 ,it divides itself as follows3 ,years4 #ast4 ,to the ,deluge #bbef #bnd4 ,to the ,birth of ,abraham #ajgb #crd4 ,to the ,exodus #eje -------- ,total from ,creation to the ,exodus #chcc ,it1 moreover1 necessarily includes the disputed generation of ,cainan1 proving that it was in his text originally2 and it excludes ,usher's addition of #fj years to that of ,terah4 ,but the narrative of the #ast book of the ,antiquities comes no lower than the death of ,isaac1 which was #bbf years before the ,exodus1 and the #bnd book contains the history from the death of ,isaac to the ,exodus4 ,yet ,josephus1 after having at the beginning of his #ast book already given the period which measures the narrative of both books1 does nevertheless at the commencement that is1 in the ,title of his #bnd ,book1 tell us that it contains a period of #bbj years in addition to the former1 and to this extent his chronology of the whole period from the ,creation to the ,exodus is forged40 ,for the rest of his remarks on the delinquencies of ,josephus1 and the detection of his errors1 we must refer our readers to the ,preface to ,part ,,ii4 of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,fulness of the ,times10 pp4 x1 et seq4 whence the above extract is taken4 ,it is proper1 however1 to add the promised explanation1 as abridged as possible4 ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in his 8,fulness of the ,times10 pp4 #ach1 #aci1 shows that in curtailing the true chronology1 the ,jews preserved the ,jubilean ,series from the birth of ,enos to the departure of ,jacob to ,padan-aram2 for1 according to the ,septuagint1 this interval is #cacf years1 or #fd ,jubilees2 but1 according to the ,hebrew text1 and ,usher1 #bjji years1 or #da ,jubilees2 the difference1 therefore1 is #aabg years or #bc ,jubilees4 ,now this difference consists of the following periods struck off in the ,hebrew chronology3 ,years4 ,from the birth of ,enos to the ,flood #djf ,from the ,flood to the birth of ,terah #gbj ,antedate of ,jacob's departure #a -------- ,total #bc ,jubilees1 or #aabg ,mr4 ,cuninghame argues from the cyclical nature of this period1 that the ,rabbis who curtailed the true chronology1 8were well aware that from the birth of ,enos to the departure of ,jacob for ,padan-aram1 there was an exact series of ,jubilees1 and that in corrupting the ,sacred text1 they have1 with profound artifice1 contrived to preserve a series of complete ,jubilees1 by subtracting exactly #bc ,jubilees1 or #aabg years40 ,he adds the following proof regarding the single year2 in the true chronology1 the birth of ,abraham is ,b4,c4 #bade1 and the departure of ,jacob1 ,b4,c4 #aijh1--;interval1 #bcg years2 in the curtailed chronology these events are respectively dated ,b4,c4 #aiif1 and ,b4,c4 #agfj1--;interval1 #bcf years2 hence1 the antedate is one year4 ,now in the preceding interval from the birth of ,enos to the flood1 the period of #f years which was subtracted from the ,antepaidogonian age of ,lamech1 is an essential element in the argument2 otherwise that interval would be only #djj years instead of #djf1 and the whole of the argument would then fall to the ground4 ,another argument1 in favour of the #f years is1 that if the longer chronology of ,josephus be so far correct1 which is proved from the ,septuagint1 it is surely proper to follow the authority of that version in regard to the #f years1 as well as in regard to the #fjj years2 if we trust to its accuracy for the greater number1 we may also trust it for the less6 ,it seems ridiculous and absurd to take the evidence of the highest authority at second hand1 and to reject a small part of that evidence1 because it is not fairly brought forward by the same hand2 although it be pressed on our notice by many other witnesses6 ,surely in regard to these #f years1 the testimony of the ,septuagint and the whole ,christian ,church1 is before that of ,josephus4 ,in reference to the tabulated statements of ,theophilus1 we find only the very singular and unaccountable error of #bj years in the ,antepaidogonian age of ,methuselah1 which the ,vatican codex1 if we may trust the editions of the ,septuagint said to have been taken from it1 appears to have retained4 ,that this chronographer has evidently read #afg years instead of #ahg years1 can scarcely be doubted from his subsequent statements1 and particularly from his statement respecting the extent of this age1 that 8all the years till the flood were #bbdb40gb ,the statements of ,africanus as to the ,antediluvian period1 entirely agree with those of the ,septuagint1 which shows that he had taken his numbers from a more correct copy of that version1 and one that agreed in this respect with the celebrated ,alexandrine codex now deposited in the ,british ,museum4 ,he confirms the truth of his particular statements by the following summary ones3 first--8,therefore1 from ,adam till the birth of ,enos all the years are #dce20 second1--8,therefore1 from ,adam till ,noah and the flood are #bbfb years40#gc ,as to the statements of ,eusebius1 and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle1 they are of a later age1 and must therefore have been copied from one or other of the former authors1 or from the copies of the ,septuagint extant in their time4 ,from the notes upon the ,chronicon of ,africanus1 added by ,routh1#gd it is evident that both ,eusebius and ,syncellus adopted the numbers in the preceding table which we have arranged under the name of the former2 and that ,epiphanius and the author of the ,paschal or ,alexandrine ,chronicle adopted the correct numbers of the ,septuagint1 which we have placed under the title of that work4 ,after stating that according to ,africanus1 8there were #cjjj years from ,adam to the death of ,peleg20 ,syncellus adds1 8but according to ,eusebius1 #bihj years20 the difference between these numbers is #bj years1 which is precisely the same as the difference between their dates of the year of the flood1 viz3 ,a4,m4 #bbfb1 and ,a4,m4 #bbdb4 ,moreover1 although ,syncellus states that ,africanus gives the former of these dates1 as the true epoch of the deluge2 he adds his own opinion1 that 8from ,adam to the flood there were #bbdb years10 and 8contra ,africanum pugnat10 fights against ,africanus1 in favour of the erroneous number4 ,the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle says explicitly1 that 8in the #ajjth year of ,shem1 the #fjjth of ,noah1 and the #bbfb;d year of the world1 the flood was upon the earth2 and this is the exact number which ,africanus exhibits at this epoch since the correct copies of ,genesis shew #ahg years as the age of ,methuselah when he begat ,lamech40 ,epiphanius1 in his first book 8against ,heretics10 after narrating that ,noah was saved in the ark1 says 8and thus the #ajth generation extended to the #bbfb;d year of the world1 and the flood brought it to an end40 ,thus it appears to have been the general opinion of the oldest and best writers that the ,first age of the world was of the precise length which we have assigned to it2 and that the only difference among them was1 whether it were not shorter by #bj years1 in consequence of some foolish mistake committed by an early transcriber in the ,antepaidogonian age of ,methuselah2 for in this age1 the correct copies of the ,septuagint perfectly agree with the ,hebrew text4 #b4 ,table ,,ii41 ,containing the statements of the ancient chronographers relating to the ,second age of the world--,absurd errors of the text of ,josephus--,the discrepancy between his detailed numbers and his sum total1 the work of an enemy to the truth--,proof that the true sum was in his text originally--,errors of ,theophilus and ,africanus in this age due to ,jewish influence--,notion entertained by the ancient chronographers regarding the bisection of the ,mundane period at the death of ,peleg--,the genealogy of ,shem1 like that of ,melchisedec1 in the chronology--,reference to ,mr4 ,clinton--,error of ,eusebius1 rectified in the ,hieronymian version of his ,chronicon--,accuracy of the ,paschal ,chronicle1 with the exception of the biennial period--,valuable ,testimony of ,eusebius and ,africanus1 preserved by ,syncellus in his ,chronographia1 on the extent of the first two ages4 ,we now proceed to notice the errors of these chronographers1 in their statements regarding the ,second age of the world4 ,the following table1 which should be compared with ,table ,,ii4 in our first ,part1 contains the ,antepaidogonian ages of the ,postdiluvian ,patriarchs1 and the ,extent of the ,second age1 according to each chronographer4 ,,table ,,ii4 ,,postdiluvian ,,josephus4 ,,theophilus4 ,,africanus4 ,,eusebius4 ,,pasch4 ,,patriarchs4 ,,chron4 ,a4,p4 ages4 ,a4,p4 ages4 ,a4,p4 ages4 ,a4,p4 ages4 ,a4,p4 ages4 ,from the ,flood 99#ab 99#j 99#j #b 99#j ,arphaxad #ace #ace #ace #ace #ace ,cainan 99#j 99#j 99#j 99#j #acj ,salah #acj #acj #acj #acj #acj ,heber #acd #acd #acd #acd #acd ,peleg #acj #acj #acj #acj #acj ,reu #acj #acb #acb #acb #acb ,serug #acb #acj #acj #acj #acj ,nahor 99#abj 99#ge #gi #gi #gi ,terah #gj #gj #gj #gj #gj ,to the ,call of #ge #ge #ge #ge #ge ,abraham -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ,,second ,,age #ajfh #ajaa #ajae #ajag #aade ,in regard to the ,extent of this age1 ,josephus is made to say1 in the present text1 that ,abraham 8was born in the #bib;d year after the flood20#ge while the summation of the ,antepaidogonian ages gives #iic years1 to which adding the age of ,abraham at the ,call1 we have #ajfh years6 ,as we can scarcely suppose ,josephus to have been guilty of so extraordinary an absurdity as to commit an arithmetical error of this magnitude1 we cannot only attribute the discrepancy to the evil design of his transcribers1 and say 8an enemy hath done this60 ,moreover1 the same wicked hand that dared to alter this and other numbers of our author1 has no doubt1 also dared to omit here the genealogy of the ,second ,cainan4 ,nor can we see what good purpose it could serve to make him say that 8,arphaxad the son of ,shem1 was born #ab years after the flood10 instead of #b1 as in the ,sacred text2 and that 8,nahor when he was #abj years old begat ,terah10#gf instead of #gi1 as in the ,septuagint4 ,but since in these details1 ,josephus has in general adopted the numbers of the ,septuagint1 it is plain that he must have followed the same authority in their sum total1 and that the sum of #bib years must have been inserted instead of the true sum of #ajgb years1 by some early advocate or supporter of the ,hebrew chronology4 ,besides1 we have shown in our preceding remarks on the ,extent of the ,first age1 that ,josephus has prefixed a number to his first ,book1 which in reality belongs to his first and second ,books1 and which includes the extent of the first three ages1 all but #f years4 ,that number is #chcc years1 a period wholly inexplicable on any other principle than that which ,mr4 ,cuninghame has laid down4 ,to him1 we are therefore justly indebted for its true and satisfactory explication2 and he has clearly shown that ,josephus must have originally inserted in his ,antiquities1 the true number of #ajgb years1 from the ,deluge to the birth of ,abraham2 although the text is now so vitiated that it cannot be made out from the place in question4 ,the errors of ,theophilus in this age are both strange and unaccountable1 except on the principle of ,jewish influence1 when we consider that his error in the first age1 was only #bj years1 while here it amounts to #acb years4 ,he states that from the ,creation 8till ,abraham1 there are #cbgh years10#gg that is1 to the birth of ,isaac as appears by the context4 ,if from this number we subtract his extent of the first age1 viz4 #bbdb years1 the remainder is #ajcf years1 or his period from the flood to the birth of ,abraham2 and from this period1 deducting #be years1 the time which elapsed from the ,call to the birth of ,isaac1 we obtain a remainder of #ajaa years1 which is the extent of the ,second age1 according to ,theophilus4 ,hence1 it is plain that he omits the ,second ,cainan1 the #b years after the flood previous to the birth of ,arphaxad1 and #d years in the ,antepaidogonian age of ,nahor4 ,the second omission is manifest also from the context1 where he says1 8but immediately 77 after the flood1 ,shem being #ajj years old1 begat ,arphaxad40 ,we shall see that he endeavours to make up for these omissions1 by a curious balance of some of these errors in the succeeding age4 ,in addition to the tabular statements1 ,africanus says that1 8,arphaxad begat ,salah in ,a4 ,m4 #bcig2 ,salah begat ,heber in ,a4 ,m4 #bebg2 and ,heber begat ,peleg in ,a4 ,m4 #bffa40 ,he says also that 8,peleg at the age of #acj begat ,reu1 and having lived other #bji years1 died20 so that 8from ,adam to the death of ,peleg there were #cjjj years40#gh ,according to the true chronology1 ,peleg died in ,a4 ,m4 #cacb2 hence1 from the dates of ,africanus1 if correctly reported1 it appears that he omits the genealogy of the ,second ,cainan1 and the two years after the flood previous to the birth of ,arphaxad4 ,the difference between the dates of ,africanus and those derived from the ,septuagint1 is therefore #acb years2 and this number must be added to the subsequent dates of ,africanus1 until other errors appear1 in order to obtain the true dates4 ,if this be done1 we shall find that throughout the whole of this age1 the dates of ,africanus will perfectly agree with those of the true chronology4 ,connected with the tradition of the renovation of the world at the end of #fjjj years1 there appears to have been an idea current among the early chronographers1 that the period from the ,creation to the ,advent of ,christ was exactly bisected at the death of ,peleg2 because the ,scripture says that 8in his days the earth was divided10 by which they seem to have understood the whole period of its existence6 ,hence1 the apparent reason of the omission of the ,second ,cainan's generation1 and the ,postdiluvian biennial period4#gi ,africanus further states that 8in ,a4 ,m4 #cbgg1 ,abraham entered the promised land20 consequently1 an interval of #bgg years had elapsed since the death of ,peleg2 but this corresponds exactly with the interval of the ,septuagint1 for #cdji #cacb #bgg2 see ,tables ,v4 and ,,viii4 of our first ,part4 ,moreover1 he states that 8from the flood and ,noah to the descent of ,abraham into the promised land1 were ten generations or #ajae years1 and from ,adam1 twenty generations or #cbgg years40#hj ,we have sufficiently discussed the question of the number of generations here mentioned1 in our first ,part1 pp4 #cd-dj2 it is quite unnecessary therefore1 to resume the subject2 suffice it to say that ,shem was an ,antediluvian1 and therefore his generation could not be reckoned in the number of generations after the flood2 neither was it reckoned in the number before the flood3 for ,noah was reckoned the tenth from ,adam1 and ,abraham the tenth from the flood4 ,in this respect1 therefore1 ,shem was like ,melchizedec1 as far as the generations or genealogies on which the ,chronology depended1 was concerned1 viz41 8,fatherless1 motherless1 without genealogy1 having neither beginning of days nor end of life1 being assimilated to the ,son of ,god10 who 8remains a priest for ever20 and who 8hath made us true believers in ,christ kings and priests unto ,god even his ,father2 to0 whom 8be glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen40 ,heb4 vii4 #c2 and ,rev4 i4 #f4 ,the statements of ,eusebius and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle respecting this age are taken from ,mr4 ,clinton's 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i4 p4 #bhg2 he appears to have very carefully sifted these numbers1 in order to arrive at the exact truth concerning the opinions of their authors4 ,he gives the following extract from the ,chronicon of ,eusebius2 8,from the flood to the first year of ,abraham are collected #idb years20 if to this number we add #ge years1 the age of ,abraham at the ,call1 we have #ajag years for the ,extent of the ,second age according to ,eusebius4 ,the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle appears to have omitted the two years after the flood2 hence1 the preceding #ge years being added to #ajgj years1 the period which he assigns between the flood and the birth of ,abraham1 we have #aade years for the ,extent of the ,second age according to that work4 ,routh1 however1 justly remarks that 8in the ,hieronymian version of the ,eusebian ,chronicle1 the years of this the ,second ,cainan are still extant20 hence1 even according to ,eusebius1 the true extent of the ,second age appears originally to have been #aadg years4 ,the following testimony collected by ,syncellus in his ,chronographia1 from the works of ,eusebius and ,africanus1 in support of the computation of the ,septuagint before the flood1 and of the ,septuagint and ,samaritan after the flood1 we extract from ,dr4 ,russell's 8,connection10 vol4 i4 pp4 #if1 #ig1 on account of its important bearing on the ,extent of the first two ages3--8,since1 according to the most ancient ,hebrew copy preserved among the ,samaritans1 and which agrees with the ,septuagint translation1 they who lived after the flood down to ,abraham did not beget children till after the age of #ajj years and more1 what reason can be assigned that their predecessors before the flood1 whose lives were longer by many years1 should begin to beget children sooner1 and not rather at the ages set down in the ,septuagint8 ,on mature consideration1 we must incline to the latter computation1 and necessarily conclude1 that the ,jewish-,hebrew reckoning of the times from ,adam to ,abraham is wrong in all the ages excepting three1 ,jared1 ,methuselah1 and ,lamech2 and that the ,samaritan-,hebrew computation is also wrong in the period from ,adam to the flood2 for in the years from the flood to ,abraham it agrees entirely with the ,septuagint4 ,but the error of the ,jewish-,hebrew text is evident from hence1 that it makes ,abraham and ,noah contemporaries1 which is inconsistent with all history3 for since according to the ,hebrew text1 there are no more than #bib years from the flood to ,abraham1 and since1 according to the same text1 ,noah lived #cej years after the flood1 it is evident that he lived to the #ehth year of ,abraham60 #c4 ,table ,,iii41 ,containing the statements of the ancient chronographers relating to the ,third age of the world--,the testimony of ,josephus to the true chronology very explicit--,misinterpretation of prophecy the cause of wavering in ,josephus and blunder in ,theophilus--,the testimony of ,africanus correct--,eusebius1 ,demetrius1 and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle correct--,explanation of the period of #djj years4 ,the following table which contains the statements of the chronographers1 regarding the ,third age of the ,world1 ought to be compared with ,table ,,viii4 in our first ,part2 as it contains the ,chief ,patriarchal ,eras and ,intervals according to each chronographer3 ,,table ,,iii4 ,,patriarchal ,,josephus4 ,,theophilus4 ,,africanus4 ,,eusebius4 ,,pasch4 ,,eras4 ,,chron4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,from the ,call ,the ,eisodus #bae #bae #bae #bae #bae ,to the ,exodus #bae #dcj #bae #bae #bae -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ,,third ,,age #dcj #fde #dcj #dcj #dcj ,the testimony of ,josephus to the ,extent of this age is very explicit4 ,he states that the ,israelites 8left ,egypt in the #dcjth year after that our father ,abraham came into ,canaan1 and in the #baeth year after the ,eisodus of ,jacob into ,egypt20#ha and he mentions some of the minor intervals1 in a very clear and distinct manner1 in his #bnd ,book4 ,it is evident indeed that he rightly understood the testimony of ,scripture as to the true intervals of this prophetic period2 although he seems to waver from the truth in the #ith chapter of that ,book1 where he speaks of the afflictions of the ,israelites in ,egypt for a period of #djj years1 according to ,gen4 xv4 #ac4 ,the latter text1 however1 appears to have been the stumbling block of ,theophilus in his chronology2 for he agrees with the ,scriptures1 as regards the intervals from the call to the ,eisodus2 and then he says that 8the sojourning of the ,hebrews in ,egypt was #dcj years60#hb ,he seems therefore to have confounded the period of #djj years with the period of #dcj years1 and to have applied the whole period to the sojourning of the ,israelites in ,egypt alone1 exclusive of ,canaan1 contrary to the testimony of the ,septuagint1 ,exodus xii4 #dj1 ,alexandrine edition1 and that of ,st4 ,paul1 ,galatians iii4 #ag4 ,by this means1 he increases the ,extent of the ,third age to #fde years1 making it greater than the true ,extent1 by #bae years6 ,it would almost seem1 therefore1 as if he had intended this error to compensate in some measure for those which he committed in the preceding ages2 inasmuch as it is of an entirely opposite character4 ,this excess of #bae years makes up not only for the omission of the #bj years in the ,antepaidogonian age of ,methuselah before the flood1 of the #acj years of the generation of the ,second ,cainan1 of the #b years after the flood1 and of the #d years in the ,antepaidogonian age of ,nahor2 but gives a surplus of #ei years at the end of the ,third age in his chronology4 ,for1 adding the #dj years wandering in the ,wilderness to his amount of the first three ages1 he says that 8all the years are #cich10hc from the ,creation of the world to the entrance of the ,israelites into the promised ,land4 ,by a reference to ,table ,x4 of our first ,part1 it will be seen that the true date of this entrance is ,a4,m4 #chhj1 and making allowance for the single year we have added to this date1 on the ground specified at p4 #fe1 it follows that the date of ,theophilus is erroneous in excess by #eh years4 ,the statements of ,africanus respecting this age have not been preserved in a perfect state2 but from the following fragments1 it will appear that he took the correct and ,scriptural view of its ,extent and ,intervals4 ,syncellus says that according to ,africanus1 8,joseph was #dj years old in the #acjth year of ,jacob2 consequently1 ,joseph lived #gj years after the arrival of ,jacob in ,egypt20 and that 8from ,adam to the death of ,joseph1 were #bc generations1 and #cefc years4#hd0 ,now1 if to the latter number1 we add #acb years1 for reasons already mentioned p4 #bdd1 we shall have #cfie years for the correct number according to the true ,chronology2 see ,table ,,viii4 of our first ,part4 ,again1 he says1 8it has been shown that there were #ajbj years from ,moses and ,ogyges to the first ,olympiad1 that is1 from the ,passover or first year of the ,exodus of the ,hebrews from ,egypt1 when the flood of ,ogyges happened in ,attica40#he ,here1 if we take the last year of the first ,olympiad as that to which ,africanus refers1 namely ,b4,c4 #ggc1 and add to it the preceding number1 we shall have ,b4,c4 #agic1 for his date of the ,exodus2 but as this chronographer constantly reckons the period from ,creation to the ,birth of ,christ as #eejj years1#hf it is evident by subtraction1 that his ,mundane date of the ,exodus is ,a4,m4 #cgjh2 to which1 adding the constant number #acb as before1 we shall obtain ,a4,m4 #chdj1 or ,b4,c4 #afci1 for the date of the ,exodus according to the true system of chronology4 ,again1 if we take the difference between either the dates of ,africanus1 or the true dates of the death of ,joseph and the ,exodus1 which we have deduced from his by the addition of a constant quantity1 we shall obtain the interval of #ade years1 which1 added to the period of #gj years above mentioned1 makes #bae years as his interval between the ,eisodus and the ,exodus2 consequently1 his interval between the ,call and the ,eisodus must have been the same amount1 and his whole extent of this age #dcj years4 ,mr4 ,clinton has given a very full extract from the ,chronicon of ,eusebius1 in which he states that from the first year of ,abraham to the ,exodus were #eje years2 that ,abraham left ,charran in the #geth year of his age2 and consequently1 from that year to the ,exodus were #dcj years4 ,he then states the ,scriptural intervals from the ,call to the birth of ,jacob1 and traces through his genealogy1 the intervals from thence to the birth of ,moses and the ,exodus2 but since1 as ,mr4 ,clinton remarks1 his 8distribution of the last #bae years is more correct than in the account of ,demetrius1 but still erroneous10 we need not repeat his enumeration in this place2 suffice it to say1 that his estimate of the whole period is correct4 ,mr4 ,clinton also cites the following passage from the ,paschal ,chronicle1 which shows that its author's estimate of the ,extent of this age was likewise correct3 8,joshua1 the son of ,nun1 #bg years2--,chushanrishathaim1 #h years2 in all1 #ciab years40 ,for1 adding to the latter number1 the two years which he omits after the flood1 we shall have #ciad years2 and from this1 subtracting the #ce years just cited1 we shall have #chci years1 and consequently1 ,a4,m4 #chci for his date of the ,exodus1 which is within a year of the true date for reasons already alluded to2 he1 therefore1 must have reckoned the period of #dcj years from the ingress of ,abraham into ,canaan1 to the egress of ,israel out of ,egypt4 ,the adjustment of the period mentioned in ,gen4 xv4 #ac1 can occasion no difficulty to the careful reader of ,scripture1 for it is evident that the commencement of this period must be reckoned from the day that ,isaac was weaned1 or perhaps a year or two after2 inasmuch it related specifically to the seed of ,abraham which were to be strangers in 8a land not theirs10 and to be 8evil entreated #djj years20 ,acts vii4 #f4 ,this evil treatment began when ,isaac was a child1 and was able to play1 say at #e years old1 with the son of ,hagar1 the ,egyptian1 the son of the bondwoman1 who was not to be heir with the son of promise and of laughter4 ,isaac was his name2 but ,sarah saw ,ishmael ,isaaking or laughing at her son1 and mocking him1 and accordingly1 she demanded that the 8bondwoman and her son0 should be cast out1--a striking emblem of the punishment that shall befal all the mockers of and laughers at the people of ,god2 for the ,apostle truly says 8but as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the ,spirit1 even so it is now30 ,galatians iv4 #bb2 yea1 and the term 8,saints10 or 8,holy ones0 of ,god1 is become a term of mockery1 of scorn1 and of reproach1 in this very age in which we now live2 although it be written that 8without ,holiness no man shall see the ,lord60 ,precisely then1 for the space of #djj years did this affliction and persecution continue against the seed of ,abraham1 till ,god brought them out of the land of ,egypt 8with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm20 and precisely in the same manner shall all the true ,israel of ,god be rescued from their enemies1 and be in due time delivered from the land of darkness and of death4 #d4 ,table ,,iv41 ,containing the statements of the ancient chronographers relating to the ,fourth age of the world--,the testimony of ,josephus to the extent of this age highly satisfactory--,proof that it was #fab years--,strange errors of ,theophilus--,method of rectifying them--,compensating errors of ,africanus--,his date of the foundation of ,solomon's ,temple correct--,errors of ,eusebius--,his ,prparatio correct in amount1 his ,chronicon wrong--,he confutes himself and adopts the ,hebrew chronology--,comparison between him and ,usher--,errors of the ,paschal ,chronicle--,the author coincides with ,josephus--,hesitancy of ,mr4 ,clinton--,table ,v41 ,the first four ages of the world1 and date of ,solomon's ,temple according to the different chronographers4 ,the following table1 which exhibits the statements of the chronographers regarding the ,fourth age of the world1 should be compared with ,table ,x4 in our first ,part2 as it contains the ,critarchal ,eras1 and ,intervals according to each chronographer4 ,with regard to this period1 we omitted to observe that the reading in most of the ,,mss4 and editions of the ,septuagint1 in #a ,kings vi4 #a1 is #ddj years instead of #dhj years4 ,,table ,,iv4 ,,critarchal ,,josephus4 ,,theophilus4 ,,africanus4 ,,eusebius4 ,,pasch4 ,,eras4 ,,chron4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,from the #dj #dj #dj #dj #dj #dj ,exodus ,joshua and #bg #bg 99#ee 99#cj #bg #bg ,elders #ast ,,servitude #h #h #h 99#j #h ,critarchate of #dj #dj 99#ej #dj 99#cb ,othniel #bnd ,,servitude #ah #ah #ah 99#j #ah ,cr4 of ,ehud #hj 99#h #hj #hj #hj and ,shamgar #crd ,,servitude #bj #bj #bj 99#j #bj ,cr4 of ,deborah #dj #dj #dj #dj #dj and ,barak #dth ,,servitude #g #g #g 99#j #g ,cr4 of ,gideon #dj #dj #dj #dj #dj ,of ,abimelech1 ,tolah1 and #dh #dh #dh #dg #dh ,jair #eth ,,servitude #ah #ah #ah 99#j #ah ,cr4 of #f #f #f #f #f ,jephthah ,of ,ibzan1 ,elon #be #be #be 99#ae #be and ,abdon #fth ,,servitude1 #dj #dj #dij 99#fj 99#bj 99#fj 7,samson7 ,critarchate of #dj 99#ha #dj #dj 99#hj ,eli #gth ,,servitude #bj 99#j 99#j 99#j 99#j ,cr4 of ,samuel #ab #ab #ij 99#j 99#j 99#bj ,reign of ,saul #dj 99#bj #dj #dj 99#bj ,reign of ,david #dj #dj #dj #dj #dj ,to the ,foundation #c #c #gj #c #d #c of ,solomon's ,temple -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- #fab #eda #gde #fac #dgi #fcb ,with regard to this much disputed period1 the testimony of ,josephus is1 in several places of his works1 highly satisfactory4 ,first--,in the title of the fifth book of his ,antiquities1 which records the history of the interval from the death of ,moses to that of ,eli1 he states that it contains a period of #dgf years2 and in the title of the #fth book1 which records the history of the interval from the death of ,eli to that of ,saul1 he states that it contains a period of #cb years4 ,these intervals taken together make a period of #ejh years2 to which1 if we add the #dj years in the wilderness1 the #dj years of ,david1 and the three years of ,solomon1 we have #eia years2 this period wants only about #bj years to make it correspond with the true chronology1 and these #bj years appear to have been omitted in the ,seventh ,servitude2 for the short period of #cb years is manifestly erroneous4 ,the truth is1 that the longer interval should be only #def or #deg years1 in order to correspond exactly with ,acts xiii4 #ai1 #bj2 and the shorter interval #gb years1 in order to correspond with ,acts xiii4 #ba1 and #a ,samuel vii4 #b4hg ,these intervals would then make together #ebi years2 to which1 if the numbers above mentioned be added1 the true amount is #fab years1 as in the ,table4 ,second1--,that #fab years is the true ,flavian ,extent of the ,fourth age of the world is evident from the #bjth book of the ,antiquities x4 #a1 where the author says 8but the number of the years which the thirteen high priests ruled1 from the day our fathers left ,egypt1 ,moses being leader1 until the foundation of the temple which ,solomon the king built in ,jerusalem1 was #fab years40#hh ,from this distinct statement of the true extent of the ,critarchal age1 it is evident that the text of ,josephus1 in books #eth and #fth of the ,antiquities1 must have originally contained the true ,scriptural numbers1 although now we find the following errors have supervened4 ,the first error is in ,book vii4 #e1 #d1 where1 speaking of the form of the ,hebrew ,government under ,moses and ,joshua1 he says1 8but after his or their death1 for the whole #ah years1 anarchy ruled their people40#hi ,the words 1 the whole1 seem plainly to indicate that a connecting sentence has been omitted here2 and that these #ah years must have been part of the government of ,joshua and the ,elders1 which appears to have been so mild and ,patriarchal1 after the division of the land1 when 8the ,lord had given rest unto ,israel from all their enemies round about10 that humanly speaking1 they were without government1 although they were living under the best of all governments--a ,theocracy4 ,after the death of ,joshua and the ,elders1 indeed1 there must have been a short period of anarchy1 perhaps about two years1#ij when the children of ,israel 8forsook the ,lord and served ,baal and ,ashtaroth10 and when 8an angel of the ,lord came up from ,gilgal to ,bochim0 to reprove them for their ,idolatry1 7,judges ii4 #a-e17 previous to their being 8sold into the hand of the ,king of ,mesopotamia20 7iii4 #h47 ,this anarchal period of two years1 with the #ah years of rest under ,joshua1 and the #g years of his active government during the war and the allotment of the land1 will clearly make up the number of #bg years1 a period to which all the ancient chronographers bear the most distinct and unequivocal testimony2--8,frequens tamen opinio est #bg annis eum ,jesum ,hebris prfuisse40#ia ,a further proof of the opinion we have here advanced respecting the #ah years1 is that ,josephus does not make the slightest mention of them at the proper place in the history1 where he speaks of the death of ,joshua1 and the accession of ,judah to power according to the ,divine word1 ,judges i4 #b2 but incidentally introduces them into a reflection which he makes on the different forms of the ,hebrew government1 on the occasion of the renewal of the ,kingdom to ,saul at ,gilgal2 #a ,samuel xi4 #ad4 ,the second error relates to the critarchate of ,shamgar1 which is usually reckoned at one year by those who undertake to expound the chronology of ,josephus2 but there is no warrant for this either in the ,scriptures1 or in ,josephus2 for he merely says1 in v4 #d1 #c1 that 8,shamgar died in the first year of his government10 which might have been at the very commencement of it1 and perhaps in the #hjth year of ,ehud4 ,the next error of ,josephus is the total omission1 in the present text of the ,critarchate of ,tolah1 who succeeded ,abimelech1 and preceded ,jair2 this omission amounts to #bc years2 but it must have been reckoned by ,josephus1 otherwise he could not have recorded such numbers as he has done in every place for the whole length of the period4 ,again1 the name and progeny of ,abdon are mentioned in v4 #g1 #ae2 but the years of his critarchate are omitted1 in the present text1 evidently by mistake or oversight4 ,lastly1 an error has been attributed to ,josephus by some chronologers1#ib in making ,saul reign only #bj years2 but this is a mistake on their part2 for he distinctly states in vi4 #ad1 #i1 that 8he reigned #ah years while ,samuel was alive1 and #bb years after his death10 which clearly makes #dj years in all4 ,further1 he states in vi4 #ac1 #e1 that 8after the death of ,eli1 the high priest ,samuel alone ruled the people #ab years2 and after ,saul was king1 #ah years20 thus plainly1 as in the present text1 omitting the ,seventh ,servitude1 when the ark was at ,kirjathjearim for the space of #bj years2 #a ,samuel vii4 #b4 ,third1--in his #b;d ,book against ,apion1 ,sect4 #b1 ,josephus says1 8,but ,solomon himself built the ,temple1 #fab years after the ,exodus of the ,jews from ,egypt40#ic ,this is a very important testimony1 occurring as it does in an argumentative treatise concerning the 8,antiquity of the ,jewish ,nation10 in opposition to the pretensions of the ,greeks1 ,egyptians1 and ,chaldeans1 to a vastly more remote origin than the ,hebrews4 ,here1 ,josephus1 or his transcribers1 having no particular end to serve in reference to dates1 has allowed the simple fact concerning the true length of the period to remain on record4 ,most likely it has escaped their notice1 otherwise it might have shared the fate of the dates and periods of his ,antiquities1 which have been by wilful alteration1 thrown into such inextricable confusion4 ,having thus shown that ,josephus originally held the true chronology of this period1 we may select some other instances of the manner in which it has been misstated either by himself or others in the present text of his works1 the error being in general a period of about #bj years1 either above or below the truth4 ,in the ,antiquities vii4 #c1 #b1 he says 8,but all the time from ,joshua being commander of the expedition against the ,canaanites1 until ,david expelled them from ,jerusalem1 was #eae years40#id ,now adding to this number the #dj years in the ,wilderness1 the #cc years which ,david reigned in ,jerusalem 7#b ,sam4 v4 #e1 #f1 #g71 and the #c years of ,solomon1 we have #eia years as before1 a period which is deficient by about #bj years4 ,again1 in viii4 #c1 #a1 he says1 8,but ,solomon began the building of the ,temple in the #dth year of his reign1 #eib years after the ,exodus of the ,israelites from ,egypt20 but according to ,tostatus1 cited by ,hudson1 the number found in some copies was #fab years4#ie ,next1 in ix4 #ad1 #a1 he says1 8,therefore the ,ten ,tribes of ,israel migrated from ,judea #idg years after the time when their forefathers1 having left ,egypt1 possessed the land2 but after the time when1 having rebelled against ,rehoboam1 the grandson of ,david1 they transferred the kingdom to ,jeroboam1 #bdj years1 #g months1 #g days20#if now1 if we reckon the captivity of the ,ten ,tribes from the ,foundation of the ,temple1 by allowing1 according to ,josephus1 viii4 #g1 #h1 for the reign of ,solomon #hj years1 taking off #c years1 and adding the remaining #gg years to the latter interval above mentioned1 neglecting the months and days1 we have #cag years for the amount2 and if we subtract this amount from the former interval1 we have #fcj years for the remainder1 which is evidently the period here reckoned between the ,exodus and the ,foundation of the ,temple1 and it errs in excess by #ah years4 ,lastly1 in x4 #h1 #e1 he says1 8,but the temple was burned #dgj years1 #f months1 and #aj days after it was founded2 and #ajfb years1 #f months1 and #aj days after the ,exodus of the people from ,egypt2#ig hence it follows1 that the period from the ,exodus to the ,foundation of the ,temple is here reckoned #eib years1 which is deficient as above by #bj years4 ,the object of the author1 or of his corrupters1 appears to have been to make the chronology square as much as possible with the extended reign of ,solomon1 and to throw back upon this period a moiety of the surplus years which he has thought fit to add to the length of this reign2 but we shall see more evidence on this point in the next section4 ,the intervals of ,theophilus1 according to the text extant1 must have been strangely corrupted1 when we find that they make the extent of this age only #eda years4 ,if we restore to the ,critarchate of ,ehud the period of #hj years instead of #h1 a mistake which might easily occur in the ,greek1 by the writing of for 1 and omit the single year allotted to ,samira1#ih out of place1 and void of authority1 we shall at once have the true number #fab years4 ,we can scarcely1 however1 attribute the corruption of the text of ,theophilus to simple mistake in this manner2 for we find that he reckons from the entrance of ,israel into the promised land 8till the end of the reign of ,david1 all the years were #dih30 now if to this interval1 we add the #dj years in the ,wilderness1 and the #c years of ,solomon1 we shall have the precise period inserted in the preceding ,table1 as his extent of the ,fourth age4 ,theophilus has committed other errors1 which however balance each other1 and produce no effect on the whole period4 ,after stating that 8the ,philistines ruled0 the ,israelites 8#dj years10 he says that 8,samson judged them #bj years20 thus forgetting the ,scriptures which says1 that 8he judged ,israel in the days of the ,philistines #bj years20 ,judges xv4 #bj4 ,he then says that 8there was peace among them for #dj years10 an assertion wholly unauthorized by ,scripture1 and by the whole crowd of chronographers4#ii ,these errors are compensated for by allotting to ,eli only 8#bj years0 instead of #dj years1 by omitting the seventh servitude of #bj years1 and by putting only 8#bj years0 instead of #dj years1 for the reign of ,saul4#ajj ,dr4 ,russell1 in his 8,connection10 vol4 i4 pp4 #abh1 #abi1 gives a view of the chronology of this period according to ,theophilus1 where he strangely misdates the age in which he lived1 and contrary to the copy of his work to which ,mr4 ,clinton or ourselves have referred1 makes out that his ,extent of the ,critarchal age is #fab years6 ,he makes no remark whatever about the error of ,theophilus in regard to the years of ,ehud1 but assumes them at once at #hj2 he retains the one year of ,shamgar1 and puts him in his proper place2 and he makes the years of ,tolah #bb instead of #bc2 thus he easily obtains the correct number1 but by no means in a satisfactory manner1 when compared with the text of the author4 ,indeed1 trusting to the view which ,dr4 ,russell has given in the passage referred to1 we have at p4 #ga stated1 and at p4 #ib considered1 that the extent of this period is1 according to ,theophilus1 #fab years2 but we now have some doubts whether this was his genuine number1 seeing that he has included the erroneous number of #eda years in his subsequent dates and intervals1 as will be shown in another section4 ,in this age also1 we have to regret the deficiency of the intervals of ,africanus1 owing to the fragmentary state in which his works have reached us4 ,the testimony of ,eusebius1 both in his ,chronicon and his ,prparatio ,evangelica1 as well as that of ,syncellus1 enables us to exhibit the chief ,intervals and the whole ,extent of the ,critarchal age according to this ,chronographer4 ,in the extracts of his third book1 which have been preserved1 he says 8,from the ,exodus of ,moses to ,cyrus1 who reigned after the ,captivity1 were #abcg years2 for the remaining years of ,moses were #dj2 the years of ,joshua1 who succeeded him as leader1 #be2 the years of the ,elders1 the ,judges after ,joshua1 #cj2 the years of those contained in the book of ,judges1 #dij2 the years of the ,high ,priests ,eli and ,samuel1 #ij2 then1 the years of the ,kings of the ,hebrews1 #dij2 and the years of the captivity1 #gj2 the last year of which was the first year of the reign of ,cyrus1 as we have before said40#aja ,the sum of these numbers is only #abce years1 instead of #abcg years1 which shows that he must have originally written #bg years for ,joshua instead of #be years4#ajb ,from this passage we learn that the interval from the ,exodus to the accession of ,saul is1 according to ,africanus1 #fge years4 ,from ,syncellus1 we learn that 8according to ,africanus1 the years from ,adam till the last of the ,judges and the first of ,eli the ,high ,priest1 were #dbib20 and that 8from ,adam till his ,solomon's #hth year1 there were1 according to ,africanus1 #ddeg years40#ajc ,taking #e years from the latter number1 we have ,a4,m4 #ddeb for the date of the ,foundation of the ,temple1 being the #dth year of ,solomon4 ,the difference1 therefore1 between this date and the first year of ,eli1 is according to ,africanus1 #afj years2 and the difference between the latter number1 and the #ij years allotted by him to ,eli and ,samuel1 is #gj years2 hence1 if we add this difference to the interval of #fge years above mentioned1 we have #gde years for the ,extent of the ,critarchal age1 according to ,africanus4 ,eusebius in his ,chronicon1 cited by ,mr4 ,clinton1 p4 #cjh1 makes this period #gdd years1 the difference being 8only a single year10 which may have arisen from a slight difference in the mode of computation1 and accounts for its elongation by the addition of #ajj years1 which are wholly unauthorised by ,scripture3 viz4--the #cj years ascribed to the ,elders who outlived ,joshua1 the #dj years of supposed anarchy after the death of ,samson1 and the #cj years of imaginary peace which succeeded the anarchy4 ,the grand object of ,africanus in the chronology of this age1 appears to have been to make up at once for the deficiency of the generation of the ,junior ,cainan1 and the two years after the flood1 by the enlargement of the period from its true length #fab years1 to his surreptitious length of #gdd years2 for the difference between these numbers is just #acb years1 the precise difference between the dates of ,africanus and the true dates of the epochs in the two former ages4 ,by the manufacture of the intervals of the ,fourth age1 therefore1 he has contrived to bring about the true date of the ,foundation of ,solomon's ,temple in his ,chronology1 and to compensate for his former errors in such a manner as to restore the ancient computation of ,scripture at this important and well-known epoch4 ,of the ,extent of the ,critarchal age1 and the length of its ,intervals1 as ,mr4 ,clinton remarks1 ,eusebius has three accounts4 ,for the account taken from his ,prparatio ,evangelica1 ,lib4 x4 c4 #ad1 and the account taken from his 8,chronicon10 which we have placed side by side in the preceding table1 we are partly indebted to ,russell and partly to ,clinton4#ajd ,as ,dr4 ,russell has endeavoured to make the former account1 by the correction of some of its intervals1 speak the language of the 8,chronicon0 in a passage1 for the citation of which we are indebted to ,mr4 ,clinton2#aje we have thought it right to restore the original numbers1 in order to show what was the real opinion of ,eusebius1 respecting this age1 on the occasion of writing his 8,gospel ,preparation40 ,according to his opinion1 therefore1 the ,extent of the ,fourth age was #fac years1 the difference between this number and the ,scriptural one1 being only a single year6 ,the author1 however1 commits a number of errors in detail1 which balance each other1 and in their summation1 bring out almost exactly the true period4 ,the chief errors are1 the omission of the ,seventh ,servitude1 #bj years2 and of the ,critarchate of ,samuel1 #ab years4 ,in order to compensate for these omissions1 he reckons the ,critarchate of ,samson1 apart from the #fth ,servitude1 #bj years2 he adds #aj years to the ,critarchate of ,othniel2 and gladly seizes upon the #cj years for ,joshua and the ,elders instead of #bg years2 in order to bring out the correct number for the whole period1 as nearly as possible1 as he well knew that it was #fab years4 ,that this was his real opinion1 is also evident from the following passage in his 8,chronicon0 already referred to3 8,the amount of the time during which the judges bore rule until ,samuel1 was altogether #dej years1 our apostle himself testifying it by his declaration1 ,acts xiii4 #bj4 ,there are1 however1 besides this reckoning1 the periods of ,moses and ,joshua his successor1 as well as of ,samuel and ,saul4 ,but let us pass1 in the meantime1 the periods of ,samuel1 and ,saul1 and ,joshua4 ,now from the testimony of the ,apostle1 the #dj years of ,saul must be added to the #dej years of the judges1 to which number the #dj years of ,david and the #d years of ,solomon being added1 the sum of the years amounts to #ecd2 which is1 in fact1 the apostolical tradition4 ,then1 the #dj years which ,moses led in the desert1 and again the #bg years of ,joshua the son of ,nun1 to which the ,jews themselves agree1 being added1 the years amount to #fjj40 ,this is a very important and clear statement of the truth1 with the exception of the #ab years of ,samuel1 8which10 ,mr4 ,clinton says1 8he supposed to be included in the years of ,saul40 ,we do not agree with ,mr4 ,clinton in this point2 we think the passage bears evident marks that he had the separate period of ,samuel in his mind2 particularly1 from his cunning 8interim seponamus10--8let us pass in the mean time40 ,in fact1 he only pretends to forget it2 for he knew that if he had added it1 along with the periods of ,joshua and ,saul1 he would have had the correct number at once1 namely1 #fab years6 ,his accommodation to the spirit of the age in which he lived1 by the insertion of the ,hebrew chronology of this period in his ,tables1 instead of the ,septuagint or ancient chronology which he has so clearly established by ,apostolical tradition1 exhibits a degree of vacillation and imbecility wholly unworthy the character of an able historian and chronographer1 and quite unbecoming an ardent advocate of the ,truth4 ,we have sufficiently refuted this chronology in our first ,part2 and it is unnecessary to go over the same arguments1 or attempt to strengthen them by the admissions of our opponents4 ,suffice it to remark that the ,hebrew intervals of ,eusebius amount only to #dgi years1 instead of #dhj years1 which it ought to reach according to #a ,kings vi4 #a1 and that even the ,hebrew intervals of ,usher amount only to #dgh years1 p4 #fh2 and although these amounts differ only by half a year1 the details of their intervals exhibit a very surprising difference4 ,thus1 ,eusebius allows #bg years to ,joshua and the ,elders1 ,usher none1 with the exception of #f years for the war and the division of the land2 ,eusebius reckons the ,critarchate of ,gideon at #dj years1 ,usher at #di years2 ,eusebius reckons the ,critarchate of ,tolah at #bb years1 ,usher at #bc years2#ajf ,eusebius omits the ,critarchate of ,ibzan #aj years1 and of ,samuel #ab years2 ,usher admits the former1 and reckons the latter #ba years2 ,eusebius reckons the ,critarchate of ,samson #bj years1 and ,usher omits it altogether4 ,eusebius and ,usher are indeed very fit authors to be classed together3 both no doubt pious men and exemplary ,christians2 but both too much given to yield to the pressure of the times as historiographers and chronographers2 and too much influenced by the bold assertions of the ,jews respecting the immaculate purity of the ,hebrew ,text4 ,the ,extent of the ,fourth age and the lengths of the ,intervals1 according to the ,paschal ,chronicle1 are given by ,mr4 ,clinton1 but in such a rambling manner that we have had some difficulty to expiscate them from his extracts4 ,as to the extent1 the author of the ,chronicle says 8the whole time1 from the #hast year of ,moses1 in which the ,exodus from ,egypt took place1 to ,solomon and the ,foundation of the ,temple amounts to #fcj years40#ajg ,we have seen that this is the number collected from ,josephus ,book viii4 #g1 #h2 but the intervals given by the author of the ,chronicle1 amount to #fcb years4 ,the first error he commits is making the ,critarchate of ,othniel only #cb years2 or1 which is the same thing1 including the #ast ,servitude in the #dj years of that judge2#ajh the next is reckoning the years of ,samson distinct from those of the #fth ,servitude1 and interposing an unauthorised period of #dj years peace between ,samson and ,eli2#aji and the last is omitting the #gth ,servitude1 reckoning the critarchate of ,samuel #bj years1 and reducing the reign of ,saul to #bj years4#aaj ,the author probably reckoned only #ci years of ,moses and #b of ,solomon1 when he calculated the whole period at #fcj years4 ,but from the ,chronicon itself1 the number of #fcb years is clearly made out2 for the #hast year of ,moses is reckoned ,a4,m4 #chcg1 and the #crd of ,solomon ,a4,m4 #ddfi4 ,the coincidence between its author and ,josephus1 which we have remarked above1 is very singular1 and seems to indicate that this error of putting #fcj years for #fab1 on the part of both1 had a common origin4 ,mr4 ,clinton also particularly investigates the statements of ,clemens ,alexandrinus1 and ,syncellus1 regarding this period2 but as we do not attach so much importance to their statements as to those we have already discussed1 we have thought proper to omit them2 suffice it to remark in general1 that they strengthen and confirm the lengthened chronology of the older chronographers4 ,the concluding observations of ,mr4 ,clinton1 p4 #cab1 appear to us surprising1 considering the mass of evidence he has brought forward in favour of the true period of #fab years4 ,he says that 8it fluctuates between the #fjj years of ,eusebius1 and the #fbh years arising out of the corrected numbers of ,josephus4 ,the truth lies somewhere between these points4 ,we may assume #fab years as the most probable40 ,there appears to us to be no probability in the case2 we have seen that the statements of ,josephus1 ,theophilus1 ,eusebius1 and the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle1 when corrected for obvious errors1 according to the authority of ,scripture1 all speak the same language and announce the invariable period of #fab years4 ,the details of the period assigned by ,africanus are lost2 but his case is peculiar2 he was evidently desirous to make this period compensate for former errors2 and he has effected his purpose to a single year4 ,his date1 therefore1 of the ,foundation of the ,temple is correct2 and this appears to have been his chief aim4 ,according to their estimate of the extent of the different ages of the world up to this epoch1 their respective dates1 according to the preceding ,tables will stand thus3-- ,,table ,v4 ,,ages ,,of ,,the ,,josephus4 ,,theophilus4 ,,africanus4 ,,eusebius4 ,,pasch4 ,,world4 ,,chron4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 #ast ,age #bbef #bbdb #bbfb #bbdb #bbfb #bnd ,age #ajfh #ajaa #ajae #ajag #aade #crd ,age #dcj #fde #dcj #dcj #dcj #dth ,age #fab #eda #gde #dhj #fcb -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ,,to ,,solomon',s #dcff #ddci #ddeb #dafi #ddfi ,,temple ,had we corrected these dates on grounds already stated1 and which by many would have been deemed sufficient1 we could have shown a much nearer coincidence between them and the true date2 but our object was to show what the details of the different authors really are as exhibited in their works now extant4 ,it is satisfactory1 however1 to observe that the difference between the latter and either of the former1 is very small1 and in the case of the greatest magnitude1 is very easily accounted for on the principle of ,rabbinical authority and influence4 ,the following remark of ,mr4 ,clinton1 p4 #cac1 is much more in point than the former above cited2 our only wonder is that he seems to think the extent of the period itself not sufficiently established3 8,this extended term of #fab years is inconsistent with the date in the ,book of ,kings 7#a ,kings vi4 #a71 which reckons the foundation of the ,temple in the #dth year of ,solomon to be in the #dhjth year after the children of ,israel were come out of the land of ,egypt4 ,but the computation of ,paul1 delivered in a solemn argument before a ,jewish audience1 and confirmed by the whole tenor of the history in the ,book of ,judges1 outweighs the authority of that date2 and we may agree with ,jackson and ,hales in rejecting it40 ,to this he might have added1 and we ought rather to agree with the whole ,christian ,church in adopting the extended period1 than with the ,jews1 the persecutors and vilifiers of that ,church1 in adopting the curtailed period1 and thus giving countenance to their interpolations of ,scripture4 #e4 ,table ,,vi4 ,containing the statements of the chronographers relating to the ,fifth age of the world--,the errors of ,josephus peculiar--,his elongation of the reign of ,solomon--,disagreement of his titulary periods with the summation of the reigns in ,books ,eighth1 ,ninth1 and ,tenth--,proof that the former is nearly correct--,table ,,vii4 ,monarchal ,periods of ,josephus--,comparison with the ,true ,chronology--,evidence that these periods have been manufactured--,the true ,chronology of this age detected in his works--,table ,,viii4 ,true ,flavian ,periods1 showing the ,scriptural extent as originally held by ,josephus--,proof that he knew the true epoch of the ,captivity--,the errors of ,theophilus in this age few--,he is also mistaken as to the epoch of the ,captivity--,africanus diminishes the true extent of this age--,he is misrepresented by ,syncellus--,the statements of ,eusebius taken from the ,hieronymian and ,armenian versions of his ,canon--,those of the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle from that work itself--,their errors pointed out--,the difference between their ,extent of this age and the true ,extent only #c years4 ,the following ,table which exhibits the statements of the ,chronographers regarding the ,fifth age of the ,world1 should be compared with ,table ,,xii4 in our ,first ,part2 as it contains the ,monarchal ,eras and ,intervals according to each chronographer4 ,,table ,,vi4 ,,monarchal ,,eras4 ,,josephus4 ,,theophilus4 ,,africanus4 ,,eusebius4 ,,pasch4 ,,chron4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,foundation of ,solomon's 99#gg #cg #cg 99#cc ,temple ,rehoboam #ag #ag #ag #ag ,abijah #c 99#g #c #c ,asa #da #da #da 99#dd ,jehoshaphat #be #be #be #be ,jehoram 99#h 99#h 99#h 99#aj ,ahaziah #a #a #a #a ,athaliah #f #f 99#g #f ,jehoash #dj #dj #dj #dj ,amaziah #bi 99#ci #bi #bi ,interregnum 99#j 99#j 99#j 99#j ,uzziah #eb #eb #eb #eb ,jotham #af #af #af #af ,ahaz #af 99#ag #af #af ,hezekiah #bi #bi #bi #bi ,manasseh #ee #ee #ee #ee ,amon #b #b 99#ab 99#ab ,josiah #ca #ca #ca #ca ,jehoahaz #j #j #j #j ,jehoiakim #aa #aa 99#ab 99#ab ,jehoiachin #j #j #j #j ,zedekiah 99#aa 99#aa #dbj 99#aa 99#aa -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ,,fifth ,,age #dgj #dde #dbj #ddb #ddb ,the principal errors of ,josephus in this age1 are his addition of #dj years to the reign of ,solomon1 and his omission of the interregnum between ,amaziah and ,uzziah4 ,the former error appears to have been peculiarly his own2 the latter he seems to share in common with most1 if not all1 the ancient chronographers4 ,in his ,antiquities1 ,book x4 #h1 #e1 he says1 8the temple was burned #dgj years #f months and #aj days after its foundation20#aaa and this period is clearly made out from the summation of the years of the reigns of the kings of ,judah as laid down by him1 in ,books ,eighth1 ,ninth and ,tenth4 ,moreover1 these books contain the history of the ,jews from the accession of ,solomon to the end of the ,babylonish captivity2 but we find1 by the summation of the titulary periods prefixed to them1 that the whole amount of this period is only #ejb years2 and1 deducting from this amount1 the first #c years of ,solomon's reign and the #gj years of the ,captivity1 we have #dbi years for a remainder1 which is a totally different result4 ,in order to arrive at the proper explanation of the difference between this number and the former1 we shall exhibit the comparison of the summation of his periods and his reigns in these ,books with the true chronology in the form of a table2 premising1 that the history of the ,v,i,i,ith ,book extends from the accession of ,solomon to the death of ,ahab1 in the #aith year of ,jehoshaphat's reign2 of the ,i,xth ,book1 from the same year to the ,captivity of the ,ten ,tribes of ,israel1 in the #fth year of ,hezekiah's reign2 and of the ,xth ,book1 from this same year to the end of the ,babylonish ,captivity4 ,in the following ,table1 the first column exhibits the periods announced in the titles of the different books1 the second the amount of the years of the different reigns they contain1 and the third the amount of the same years according to the true chronology3 ,,table ,,vii4 ,,monarchal ,,periods4 ,,josephus4 ,,true ,,chronology4 ,periods4 ,reigns4 ,the ,v,i,i,ith ,book comprehends #afc #afj #aai ,the ,i,xth ,book #aeg #ahj #aij ,the ,xth ,book #ahb #bjc #ahe -------- -------- -------- ,total1 including ,captivity #ejb #edc #did ,deduct the three years of ,solomon #c #c #c -------- -------- -------- #dii #edj #dia ,deduct the years of the ,captivity #gj #gj #eb -------- -------- -------- ,extent of the ,fifth age #dbi #dgj #dci ,here the discrepancy between the amount of the ,periods and the amount of the ,reigns is manifest2 and the cause of the discrepancy is plainly the #dj years surreptitiously added to ,solomon's reign2 for if this number be subtracted from #dgj years1 the result of the reigns1 the remainder is #dcj years1 which agrees with the result of the periods to a single year1 and this year may have been added for the #ast of ,cyrus4 ,the latter amount1 however1 still differs from the true period by #aj years2 and this difference evidently arises from the omission of the interregnum of #ab years1 and the addition of #b years to the reign of ,jehoram4 ,the extraordinary want of agreement between the different periods and the corresponding amount of the reigns1 shows that the former must have been manufactured to serve some particular purpose1 the most probable being the concealment of the error of #dj additional years in the reign of ,solomon4 ,this is so far ingeniously done1 and might deceive a cursory reader2 for the first period of #afc years is his exact interval from the ,foundation of the ,temple to the end of ,jehoshaphat's reign2 the second period of #aeg years is exactly #dj years less than his interval from the end of ,jehoshaphat's reign to the end of ,hezekiah's reign2 and the third period of #ahb years is only #b years more than his interval from the end of ,hezekiah's reign to the end of the captivity4 ,that this tortuous chronologer and historian must have originally reckoned his periods in this age according to the true system of chronology1 is manifest from the following passage in ,book x4 #d1 #d2 where1 speaking of the fulfilment of the prophecy concerning the idolatrous altar at ,bethel 7#a ,kings xiii4 #a71 he says1 8and he ,josiah burned the bones of the false prophets upon the altar which ,jeroboam first built10 and 8these things were fulfilled after a period of #cfa years40#aab ,now1 according to the testimony of ,scripture 7#b ,chronicles xxxiv4 #c71 cited by ,josephus 7x4 #d1 #a71aac we find that this fulfilment took place in the #abth year of the reign of ,josiah2 and from the #ast year of ,jeroboam1 when the altar was built1 to the epoch in question1 the interval1 according to the chronology of ,josephus in the preceding ,table1 is only #cea years2 but1 according to the true ,chronology1 it is exactly #cfa years4 ,it is plain1 therefore1 that ,josephus in this passage1 must have reckoned an interregnum of #aj years between ,amaziah and ,uzziah3 and1 if we reckon the reign of ,jehoram only #f years as in the true chronology1 instead of #h years as in that of our author1 and add the surplus of #b years to these #aj years1 we shall have the correct ,interregnum of #ab years1 as stated at p4 #gd1 under the head of the ,septuagint2 see #b ,kings xv4 #a4aad ,it is true that the #aj years which we have thus detected in the ,antiquities1 might have been added by ,josephus1 as by ,theophilus and ,clemens1 to the reign of ,amaziah1 but this would not alter the total amount4 ,some chronologers1 as ,polyhistor cited by ,eusebius1#aae have added #aj years to the reign of ,amon instead of to that of ,amaziah2 but in either case the effect is still the same1--to make the whole period more consistent with the true chronology4 ,thus we have expiscated the truth concerning this period even from the unwilling pages of ,josephus2 for the rest of the computation concerning the ,fifth age will be clearly seen from the following ,table1 which harmonizes with the previous result3 ,,table ,,viii4 ,,true ,,flavian ,,periods4 ,years4 ,from the #ast of ,jeroboam to the #abth of ,josiah #cfa ,the rest of ,josiah's reign #ai ,the remaining ,jewish reigns #bb -------- ,from the #ast of ,jeroboam to the #ajth of ,zedekiah #djb ,the previous years of the ,reign of ,solomon #cg -------- ,extent of the ,fifth ,age #dci ,although ,josephus in his 8,antiquities0 has generally reckoned the #gj years of the ,captivity from the ,destruction of the ,temple to the #ast year of ,cyrus1 which is contrary to the true chronology and to the ,canon of ,ptolemy1 yet we have evidence in his 8,jewish ,war0 that he was perfectly acquainted with the correct period of #eb years1 which we have shown in our first ,part1 at pp4 #hj1 #ha1 to be the true interval4 ,thus1 in ,book vi4 #d1 #h1 of the latter work1 when speaking of the ,destruction of the ,temple1 he says1 8and from the first foundation which ,king ,solomon laid1 till the present destruction1 which happened in the #b;d year of the ,emperor ,vespasian1 are reckoned #aacj years #g months and #ae days2 but from the second1 which ,haggai effected in the #b;d year of ,cyrus the king1 till the destruction under ,vespasian1 #fci years and #de days40#aaf ,not to dwell on the glaring anachronism of referring the foundation of the temple in the #bnd year of ,cyrus 7,ezra iii4 #h71 to the renewal of the work of building it in the #bnd year of ,darius 7,ezra iv4 #bd1 and v4 #a71 it is plain that the difference between the two periods mentioned in this passage1 viz4 #dia years1 is the true interval from the destruction of ,solomon's temple to the foundation of the second ,temple in the #bnd year of ,cyrus2 for omitting the half-year1 as the #bnd year had just commenced at the latter epoch 7,ezra iii4 #h71 and subtracting the #eb years above mentioned1 from #dia years1 we have the remainder #dci years1 for the true ,extent of the ,fifth age as before4 ,the proof1 however1 that he was acquainted with the true interval1 at least within a year or two1 is manifest from a passage which occurs in his #ast ,book against ,apion1 sect4 #ba2 where he says1 8,for it is written in them the ,hebrew ,scriptures that ,nebuchadnezzar destroyed our temple in the #ahth year the #aith year1 #b ,kings xxv4 #h of his reign1 and it was in ruins for #ej years2 but in the #bnd year of the reign of ,cyrus1 the foundations were laid1 and in the #bnd again of the reign of ,darius they were finished40#aag ,the difference of #b years is easily accounted for by supposing that he took the reign of ,cyrus in ,babylon at #i years1 according to some copies of the ,canon of ,ptolemy1 instead of #g years1 according to ,scripture1 that is1 by supposing his reign to have begun #b years earlier than the true period4 ,he appears1 however1 to have tacked these two years to the true interval in question1 in another chapter of the same book1 viz4 8,jewish ,war10 vi4 #aj2 where1 speaking of the destruction of ,jerusalem1 he says 8,david1 ,king of the ,jews1 having expelled the people of the ,canaanites1 made his own inhabit it2 and #dgg years #f months afterwards1 it was destroyed by the ,babylonians40#aah ,now as ,david reigned #cc years in ,jerusalem1 and the temple was founded in the #dth year of ,solomon1 if we subtract #cf years from the preceding number1 we obtain #dda years for the period from the foundation of the temple to its destruction1 which is only #b years more than the true period1 a surplus which appears to have arisen from his unwarrantable addition to the true period of the #ajth ,book of the ,antiquities4 ,the last passage which we shall adduce from this extraordinary historical production1 so full of chronological errors1 is from the #bjth ,book1 where speaking of the ,high ,priests1 he says1 ,nebuchadnezzar 8took ,josedek the ,high ,priest captive2 and the time of their hierarchy was #dff years1 #f months1 and #aj days1 during the reigns of the ,jewish kings40 ,now ,josedek was taken captive1 not when the temple and city were burned1 as ,josephus erroneously says in the context1 but when the 8king of ,babylon took ,jehoiachin in the #hth year of his reign10 and 8carried away all ,jerusalem1 and all the princes1 and all the mighty men of valour1 #aj1jjj captives1 and all the craftsmen1 and all the smiths2 none remained1 save the poorest sort of the people of the land20 #b ,kings xxiv4 #aa-af1 and #a ,chronicles vi4 #ae4 ,but as ,nebuchadnezzar destroyed ,jerusalem in the #aith year of his reign 7#b ,kings xxv4 #h71 the difference of time between the first1 or ,jehoiachin's captivity1 and the second1 or ,zedekiah's captivity1 is evidently #aa years1 which being added to the preceding period1 makes a total of #dgg years as before4 ,in these two passages1 therefore1 ,josephus is consistent with himself1 and he differs from the true chronology in this period only by the small interval of about #b years2 a difference which1 as we before remarked1 may be due to his mistake in reference to the ,scriptural commencement of the reign of ,cyrus1 ,king of ,babylon4 ,for a more extensive inquiry into this period of the ,chronology of ,josephus1 we refer to ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,fulness of the ,times10 pp4 #bg-fj1 to which we have been indebted for some suggestions in the preceding discussion4 ,the errors of ,theophilus in the intervals of the ,fourth age are few1 and chiefly of a compensating nature2 and his error in its extent amounts only to about #f years4 ,he states the reign of ,abijah at #g years instead of #c2 of ,jehoram at #h years instead of #f2 and of ,amaziah at #ci years instead of #bi2 but the two latter errors make up for his omission of the interregnum of #ab years4 ,he next reckons the reigns of ,ahaz and ,zedekiah1 each a year too much1 which1 with the error in the reign of ,abijah1 makes the whole period erroneous in excess by about #f years1 its ,extent being #dde years1 according to the ,table4 ,this ,extent is confirmed by the following statement in his general summary3 8from the death of ,david1 till the end of the sojourning of the people in the land of ,babylon1 were #eah years1 #f months1 #aj days40#aai ,now1 if from this period1 we subtract the first #c years of ,solomon1 and the #gj years of the captivity1 we shall have for the remainder #dde years1 the period from the foundation to the destruction of the ,temple1 according to ,theophilus4 ,again1 he says1 all the time1 from the beginning of the world till the end 8of the sojourning in the land of ,babylon1 is #died years1 #f months1 #aj days40#abj ,now1 if we add together his different ages up to this epoch1 including the #gj years of the captivity1 we shall have this precise amount2 thus1 #bbdb #ajaa #fde #eda #dde #gj #died years4 ,this confirmatory statement1 therefore1 shows the accuracy of our estimate of the chronology of ,theophilus2 and thus we see that like other chronographers1 he has1 contrary to ,scripture1 reckoned the period of the #gj years' captivity from the destruction of ,jerusalem to the #ast year of the reign of ,cyrus4 ,the errors of ,africanus in the intervals of the ,fourth age cannot be detected1 owing to the loss of this part of his ,chronicon2 we can only decide upon the inaccuracy of his statement regarding its ,extent from the extract already cited at p4 #bfe1 where he assigns #dij years as the whole period of the ,jewish ,kings4 ,we have seen at p4 #bff1 that #gj years of this period belong to the former age1 according to ,africanus2 it follows1 therefore1 that #dbj years must be his ,extent of the ,monarchal age1 which we have accordingly inserted in the ,table4 ,we have scarcely any means of confirming the correctness of this result1 until we show1 from his remaining fragments concerning the succeeding age1 that it is quite consistent with his great ,mundane period from ,adam to ,christ4 ,it is necessary1 however1 to make one remark on this subject1 namely1 that ,syncellus has committed an error in stating that 8,africanus reckoned the #gj years of the captivity from the #ast year of ,zedekiah10#aba as we shall see in the sequel4 ,the statements of ,eusebius1 in the preceding ,table1 are taken from the ,hieronymian#abb and ,armenian#abc versions of his ,canon2 those of the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle from that work itself4#abd ,the former places the foundation of the temple in the #dth year of ,solomon2 the latter erroneously in his #hth year4 ,both authors in several places of their works1 state the extent of the ,fifth age at #ddb years1 and in order to preserve this number entire they appear to have manufactured two or three of the reigns4 ,thus1 ,eusebius reckons the reign of ,jehoram at #h complete years instead of #f1 that of ,athaliah at #g instead of #f1 and that of ,amon at #ab instead of #b4 ,in the ,armenian version the reign of ,jehoiakim is reckoned at #ab years instead of #aa1 which seems necessary to make up the total #ddb years4 ,in the ,paschal ,chronicle1 the reign of ,asa is reckoned at #dd years instead of #da1 that of ,jehoram at #aj instead of #f1 that of ,jehoiakim at #ab instead of #aa1 and that of ,amon at #ab instead of #b4 ,abating the errors thus pointed out1 and admitting the interregnum1 both authors testify to the true length of this period1 which1 notwithstanding the former1 they have only overrated by #c years4 #f4 ,table ,,ix4 ,ethnocratic ,eras and ,intervals according to ,ptolemy's ,canon and the ancient ,chronographers--,accuracy of the ,canon--,josephus erroneous but consistent in the ,sixth age--,his remarkable coincidence with the true ,chronology in the ,mundane period--,theophilus follows the ,roman ,chronology in this age--,africanus the prophetic--,both erroneous--,errors of ,eusebius1 and accuracy of his ,extent of this age--,errors of the ,paschal ,chronicle considerable and unaccountable--,table ,x4 ,summation of the ,six ages of the world according to the ,septuagint and the ancient chronographers--,table ,,xi4 ,summation of the ,periods of the ,christian ,chronographers1 adopted by themselves--,chronological ,table of the ,principal ,epochs and ,events from the ,creation to the ,advent of ,christ4 ,the following ,table exhibits the errors of the chronographers in regard to the ,sixth age of the world4 ,in our first ,part1 we have denominated the ,eras of this age ,hierarchal1 ,table ,,xiv4 p4 #hj1 to indicate the internal form of ,government which prevailed among the ,jews during the period from their return to their own land to the ,advent of the ,messiah2 here we style them ,ethnocratic1 to indicate the ,iron rule which the ,heathen ,kings exercised over the remnant of the ancient people of ,god1 till 8in the days of these kings the ,god of ,heaven set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed10 but 8should break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms1 and stand for ever40 ,in this table1 we have introduced an additional column1 showing the periods of the ,four ,great ,monarchies or ,empires foretold in the book of ,daniel1 in as far as they relate to the ,sixth age1 according to the ,canon of ,ptolemy1 which is accounted by chronologers as one of the most valuable and precious relics of ,antiquity4 ,,table ,,ix4 ,,ethnocratic ,,ptolemy4 ,,josephus4 ,,theophilus4 ,,africanus4 ,,eusebius4 ,,pasch4 ,,eras4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,intervals4 ,from ,solomon's ,temple4 ,,the ,,assyrian #eb ,,empire4 ,jewish #gj #gj #gj #gj #gj ,captivity4 ,roman #ed ,regifugium ,,persian #bje #bcj #aij #bjf ,,empire ,jewish #dad ,hierarchy ,the ,asamonean #abe ,dynasty4 ,,grecian #cjb #bih #cja #bif ,,empire ,roman #dec ,republic ,,to ,,the ,,roman ,,empire4 #bh #cc #df #cj #bg #bi ,birth of ,christ -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ,,the ,,sixth #ehg #fdb #fbc #fbh #ehh #fja ,,age ,in this ,table the extent of the ,ethnocratic age is #ehg years according to the ,canon of ,ptolemy2#abe this is #b years more than we assigned at p4 #hj1 owing to the reign of ,cyrus being estimated at #i years instead of #g1 which brings the ,sixth age up to the vulgar era of the ,birth of our ,saviour4 ,the ,canon assigns #dc years respectively to the reigns of ,nebuchadnezzar and ,augustus ,csar2 hence the former reigned #be years after the taking of ,jerusalem1#abf and the latter #bh before the ,christian era2#abg thus the extreme intervals of the first column of the table were obtained4 ,the intervals of ,josephus were determined from the following passages3--,book ,,xi4 #a1 #a1 8,in the first year of the reign of ,cyrus1 and this was the #gjth from the day that it befell our people to remove from home to ,babylon20--,book ,,xx4 #aj1 #a1 8,after the period of the #gj years' captivity1 c4 ,joshua the ,son of ,josedek1 took the office of ,high ,priest2 and his posterity1 in all #ae1 held the democratic form of government for #dad years1 till the reign of ,antiochus ,eupator20--,book ,,xiv4 #af1 #d1 8,thus ceased the government of the ,asamonean race after #abf years20--,book ,,xvii4 #f1 #c1 8for #abe years during which they the ,asamoneans reigned20--and1 ,book ,,xvii4 #h1 #a1 8,having reigned1 after he ,herod caused the death of ,antigonus1 #cd years1 and after he was appointed by the ,romans1 #cg years40#abh ,now1 taking the period of the ,asamonean dynasty at #abe years1 and the years of the reign of ,herod before ,christ was born1 at #cc1 we have1 from the preceding extracts1 the intervals in the ,table1 and the extent of the whole period #fdb years1 according to ,josephus4 ,this result receives a striking confirmation from the summation of the periods contained in the ,titles of the different ,books of the ,antiquities which relate the ,history from the #ast year of ,cyrus to the death of ,herod4 ,thus1 ,years4 ,the ,captivity continued #gj ,the ,x,ith ,book comprehends #bec ,the ,x,i,ith ,book #agj ,the ,x,i,i,ith ,book #hb ,the ,x,i,vth ,book #cb ,the ,x,vth ,book #ah ,the ,x,v,ith ,book #ab ,the ,x,v,i,ith ,book to the year before the death of ,herod1 #eabi comprehends -------- ,total #fdb ,thus it appears that ,josephus1 or his corrupter1 conscious that by the omission of the ,second ,cainan1 he had curtailed the length of the true age of the world1 has compensated for this generation1 by enlarging the ,postdiluvian biennial period1 the ,antepaidogonian age of ,nahor1 the reign of ,solomon1 and the extent of the ,hierarchal age2 for1 we shall see that by the summation of the different ages as we have now determined them from the ,antiquities1 we obtain the true period from the ,creation to the ,christian ,era1 viz4 #edgh years6 ,the extent of the ,sixth age according to ,theophilus1 is obtained from the following extracts3 8,the #gj years being finished1 ,cyrus king of the ,persians1 in the #b;d year of his reign10 proclaimed the return of the ,jews2 8then1 ,cyrus having reigned #bi years died10 ,u4 ,c4 #bbj2 8at which time ,tarquin surnamed ,superbus began to reign0 at ,rome1 8who reigned #be years4 ,after whom1 the ,consuls and ,tribunes reigned #dec years40 ,to these1 succeeded the ,emperors1 8,first ,caius ,julius1 #c years1 #d months1 #f days2 then ,augustus1 #ef years1 #d months1 #a day40#acj ,from these extracts1 it is evident that ,theophilus reckoned #ed years from the end of the ,jewish captivity to the ,regifugium at ,rome2 and #df years from the beginning of the ,roman ,empire to the ,christian ,era4#aca ,thus1 according to ,theophilus1 the whole extent of this period is #fbc years2 and consequently1 the period from ,creation to the ,christian era1 #eejg years4 ,we obtain the extent of the ,sixth age according to ,africanus1 from the following fragments of his work3--8,for after the #gjth year of the captivity1 ,cyrus having sent0 the ,jews to rebuild the temple1 8we find the kingdom of the ,persians extending to #bcj years1 and that of the ,macedonians to #cjj years2 and thence to the #afth year of ,tiberius ,csar1 #fj years40 ,again1 8the whole time of the ,macedonian empire1 was #cjj years wanting #b10 from its commencement till its termination with ,cleopatra1 the last of the ,ptolemies1 in the #adth year of the ,roman monarchy2--8all the years from ,adam being #edgb40acb ,here1 ,africanus appears to have forgotten himself1 and after saying that the period of the ,grecian ,empire was #bih years1 he still reckons it #cjj1 and thus obtains the number of #edgb years from the ,creation4 ,taking #bih years for the correct period of that ,empire1 and #cj years as the true interval from its termination to the ,christian era1 we have #fbh years for the extent of the ,sixth age1 according to this chronographer2 and consequently1 the whole period from the ,creation to the ,christian era1 #eejj years4 ,the extent and intervals of the ,sixth age according to ,eusebius in his ,chronicon1 were obtained from the same sources as before1 see p4 #bhf4 ,he dates the proclamation of ,cyrus in the #cjth year of the ,captivity1 and his death in the #fjth year4 ,he next dates the #gjth year of the ,captivity in the #bnd of ,darius ,hystaspes1 and thus annihilates #dj years of the ,persian ,empire before that epoch2 consequently1 only #aij years remained after it1 as he reckons the whole period #bcj years4 ,he next reckons #f years of the reign of ,alexander the ,great1 independently of the ,grecian ,empire1 which he estimates at #bie years under the ,ptolemies2 thus making the whole period of the ,macedo-,grecian empire #cja years4 ,lastly1 he dates the ,birth of ,christ in the #db;d year of ,augustus ,csar1 his #aeth year being reckoned coincident with the #bb;d of ,cleopatra1 the last of the ,ptolemies2 hence1 the period from the end of the ,grecian ,empire to the ,christian era1 is #bg years1 and the extent of the whole period under discussion1 #ehh years4 ,thus ,eusebius1 by an admixture of the ,hebrew and ,septuagint ,chronologies in his ,canon1 makes the period from ,creation to the ,christian era1 #eaii years4 ,the intervals and extent of the ,sixth age1 according to the author of the ,paschal ,chronicle1 were obtained from his work1 see p4 #bhf4 ,he follows ,eusebius in his epochs of the #ast of ,cyrus and the end of the ,captivity2 but he reckons the whole period of the ,persian ,empire at #bdf years1 and thus makes the remainder #bjf years after the ,captivity4 ,he estimates the period of the ,grecian ,empire at #bif years1 including ,alexander2 and the reign of ,augustus ,csar as sole ,emperor1 at #dd years2 thus making the period from the end of the ,grecian empire to the birth of ,christ #bi years1 and the extent of the whole period in question1 #fja years4 ,according to this author1 therefore1 by the summation of his periods the number of years from the ,creation to the ,christian era1 is #eeab2 but he states it himself at #eejg years4 ,he seems to have obtained this period1 by annihilating #b years in the extent of the #dth age and #c years in that of the #eth age1 in order to make it coincide with that of ,theophilus4 ,the following table exhibits the summation of the ,six ages of the world1 according to their extent1 as determined in the preceding pages1 from the works of the ancient chronographers2 including those of the ,septuagint1 with the ,sixth age as determined by the ,canon of ,ptolemy4 ,,table ,x4 ,,mundane ,,septuagint4 ,,josephus4 ,,theophilus4 ,,africanus4 ,,eusebius4 ,,pasch4 ,,ages4 ,,chron4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,years4 ,first #bbfb #bbef #bbdb #bbfb #bbdb #bbfb ,second #aadg #ajfh #ajaa #ajae #ajag #aade ,third #dca #dcj #fde #dcj #dcj #dcj ,fourth #fab #fab #eda #gde #dhj #fcb ,fifth #dci #dgj #dde #dbj #ddb #ddb ,sixth #ehg #fdb #fbc #fbh #ehh #fja -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ,total #edgh #edgh #eejg #eejj #eaii #eeab ,the following table exhibits the summation of the different periods into which the four ,christian chronographers subdivide the ,great ,mundane period1 from ,creation to the ,era of ,redemption4 ,,table ,,xi4 #a4 ,eras and ,intervals according to ,theophilus4#acc ,years4 ,from ,creation to the ,flood #bbdb ,from the ,flood to ,abraham #ajcf ,from ,abraham to ,moses #ffj ,from ,moses to ,david #dih ,from ,david to the ,captivity #eah ,from the ,captivity to ,aurelius #gdd -------- ,from ,creation to ,aurelius #efih ,from the ,christian ,era to ,aurelius #aia -------- ,from ,creation to the ,christian ,era #eejg #b4 ,eras and ,intervals according to ,africanus4#acd ,years4 ,from ,adam to the ,flood #bbfb ,from the ,flood to ,abraham #ajae ,from ,abraham to ,joseph #bhf ,from ,joseph to ,eli #gbi ,from ,eli to the ,captivity of the ,ten ,tribes #deh ,from the ,captivity to the ,resurrection and ,ascension of ,christ #gha -------- #eeca ,from the ,birth to the ,resurrection and ,ascension of ,christ #ca -------- ,from ,adam to the ,christian ,era #eejj #c4 ,eras and ,intervals according to ,eusebius4#ace ,years4 ,from ,adam to the ,flood #bbdb ,from the ,flood to ,abraham and ,ninus #idb ,from ,ninus to ,moses and ,cecrops #eje ,from ,cecrops to the ,fall of ,troy #cbi ,from the ,fall of ,troy to the #ast ,olympiad #djf ,from the #ast ,olympiad to ,darius #bef ,from ,darius to the #aeth of ,tiberius #edh -------- ,from ,adam to the #aeth of ,tiberius #ebbh ,from the ,nativity to the #aeth of ,tiberius #bi -------- ,from ,adam to the ,christian ,era #eaii #d4 ,eras and ,intervals according to the ,paschal ,chronicle4#acf ,years4 ,from ,adam to the ,flood #bbfb ,from the ,flood to the ,exodus #aege ,from the ,exodus to the ,temple #fad ,from the ,temple to ,cyrus #dhj ,from ,cyrus to ,alexander #bdi ,from ,alexander to the #aeth of ,tiberius #cef -------- ,from ,adam to the #aeth of ,tiberius #eecf ,from the ,nativity to the #aeth of ,tiberius #bi -------- ,from ,adam to the ,christian ,era #eejg ,we shall now conclude this work1 with a ,chronological ,table of the principal epochs and events from the ,creation of the ,world to the ,advent of our ,saviour4 ,the epochs of ,sacred ,history determined according to the true ,chronology1 are printed in ,roman letters1 and the epochs of ,profane ,history in ,italics4 ,in the former1 ,cuninghame is our best authority2 in the latter1 ,clinton1 with occasional reference to ,russell1 or ,hales4 ,some dates that seem to be well founded1 are taken from ,julius ,africanus4 ,the epochs marked with a ,star are either traditional or conjectural4 ,the ,critarchates1 ,reigns1 ,missions1 ,commissions1 c41 are all dated at their respective commencements2 and the extent of each of the two former may be determined from the table1 by taking the difference of the dates of any two consecutive ,critarchates or ,reigns4 ,,chronological ,,table4 ,,first ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,a4,m4 ,b4,c4 #ba ,traditional ,epoch of the ,creation #eejj #ba 99,higher ,astronomical ,epoch of the ,brahmins #eejj #a ,true ,epoch of the ,creation #edgh #ajj 99,death of ,abel #ecgi #bcj ,birth of ,seth #ebdi #dce ,birth of ,enos #ejdd #fbe ,birth of ,cainan ,i4 #dhed #gfe ,chronological ,epoch of the ,julian ,period #dgad #gie ,birth of ,mahalaleel #dfhd #ica ,death of ,adam #dedh #ifj ,birth of ,jared #deai #ajgj 99,apostacy of the ,sons of ,god #ddji #ajhf ,samaritan ,epoch of the ,creation #dcic #aabb ,birth of ,enoch #dceg #aadb ,death of ,seth #dccg #aagi ,lower ,astronomical ,epoch of the ,brahmins #dcjj #abhf 99,astronomical ,revelations of ,uriel #daic #abhg ,birth of ,methuseleh #daib #acdj ,death of ,enos #daci #adjf ,astronomical ,epoch of ,laplace #djgc #adgd ,birth of ,lamech #djje #adge ,hebrew-,usher ,epoch of ,creation #djjd #adhg ,translation of ,enoch #ciib #aece ,death of ,cainan ,i4 #cidd #affb ,birth of ,noah #chag #afij ,death of ,mahalaleel #cghi #agai ,modern ,jewish ,epoch of ,creation #cgfj #aibb ,death of ,jared #ceeg #badb ,prediction of the ,flood #cccg #bafb ,birth of ,japhet or ,iapetus #ccag #bafd ,birth of ,shem #ccae #bafe ,birth of ,ham #ccad #bbbg ,death of ,lamech #cbeb #bbef ,death of ,methuselah #cbbc #bbef ,flavian ,epoch of the ,flood #cbbc #bbfb ,true ,epoch of the ,flood #cbag ,,second ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #bbfc ,descent of ,noah from the ,ark #cbaf #bbfc ,first appearance of the ,rainbow #cbaf #bbfd ,birth of ,arphaxad #cbae #bcgg ,hindoo ,epoch of the ,calyougham #cajb #bcii ,birth of ,cainan ,,ii4 #cjhj #bdja ,first ,jubilee of ,jubilees from ,creation #cjgh #bebf ,chinese ,epoch of ,fohi #biec #bebi ,birth of ,salah #biej #begi ,foundation of ,egypt by ,mizraim #bijj #bfab ,death of ,noah #bhfg #bfei ,birth of ,eber #bhbj #bgfd ,death of ,shem #bgae #bgic ,birth of ,peleg or ,phalec #bfhf #bhjb ,death of ,arphaxad #bfgg #bhei ,death of ,cainan ,,ii4 #bfbj #bibc ,birth of ,reu or ,ragau #beef #bifb ,death of ,salah #beag #cjah ,chinese ,epoch of ,tchouen-,hiu #bdfa #cjee ,birth of ,serug #bdbd #cjfc ,death of ,eber #bdaf #cjgi 99,foundation of ,babel #bdjj #cjha 99,confusion of ,tongues #bcih #cjha 99,division of the ,earth #bcih #cabb ,chinese ,epoch of ,yao #bceg #cacb ,death of ,peleg #bcdg #caeb ,foundation of ,memphis by ,menes #bcbg #cahe ,birth of ,nahor #bbid #cbdi 99,birth of ,job #bbcf #cbdf ,babylon taken by the ,medes #bbcc #cbdf ,chaldean ,astronomical ,epoch #bbcc #cbfb ,death of ,reu #bbag #cbfd ,birth of ,terah #bbae #cbig ,foundation of the ,assyrian ,monarchy #bahb #cccd ,birth of ,abraham #bade #ccdc 99,trial of ,job #bacf #cche ,death of ,serug #bjid #cdjf 99,abraham arrives in ,haran #bjgc #cdji ,death of ,terah #bjgj #cdji ,true ,epoch of the ,call of ,abraham #bjgj ,,third ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #cdaj ,descent of ,abraham to ,egypt #bjfi #cdah ,canaan promised to ,abraham #bjfa #cdbj ,birth of ,ishmael #bjei #cdcc ,covenant of ,circumcision #bjdf #cdcc ,destruction of ,sodom #bjdf #cdcd ,birth of ,isaac #bjde #cdga ,death of ,sarah #bjjh #cdgd ,marriage of ,isaac #bjje #cdhc 99,death of ,job #aiif #cdid ,birth of ,jacob and ,esau #aihe #ceji ,death of ,abraham #aigj #cebb ,foundation of ,sicyon #aieg #cecd ,marriage of ,esau #aice #ceeg ,death of ,ishmael #aibb #cega ,jacob goes to ,padan-aram #aijh #cega ,marriage of ,jacob #aijh #cegb ,birth of ,reuben #aijg #cegd ,birth of ,simeon #aije #cege ,birth of ,levi #aijd #cegf ,birth of ,judah #aijc #cehg ,foundation of the ,assyrian ,empire #ahib #ceia ,jacob returns to ,canaan #ahhh #ceih ,birth of ,benjamin #ahha #cfjb ,joseph carried into ,egypt #ahgg #cfad ,death of ,isaac #ahfe #cfae ,joseph made ,regent of ,egypt #ahfd #cfaf ,first ,year of ,plenty #ahfc #cfbb ,birth of ,kohath #aheg #cfbd ,eisodus of ,jacob into ,egypt #ahee #cfda ,death of ,jacob #ahch #cfhd ,birth of ,amram #agie #cfie ,death of ,joseph #aghd #cgab ,death of ,levi #agfg #cgbf ,descent of ,phoroneus #agec #cgee ,death of ,kohath #agbd #cgef ,birth of ,aaron #agbc #cgei ,birth of ,moses #agbj #cghg ,foundation of ,argos #afib #cgii ,moses flies to ,midian #afhj #chcg ,flood of ,ogyges #afdb #chdj ,true ,epoch of the ,exodus #afci ,,fourth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #chdj ,the ,law proclaimed at ,sinai #afci #chgi ,death of ,aaron and ,moses #afjj #chhj ,passage of the ,jordan #aeii #chhf ,division of ,canaan by ,lot #aeic #chif ,death of ,joshua #aehc #chid ,foundation of ,athens #aehe #cijg ,first ,servitude of ,israel #aegb #ciae ,critarchate of ,othniel #aefd #ciee ,second ,servitude #aebd #cigc ,critarchate of ,ehud #aejf #cihh ,indian ,astronomical ,epoch #adia #djac ,descent of ,danaus and ,pelasgus #adff #djdc ,flood of ,deucalion #adcf #djdc ,third ,servitude #adbf #djgc ,critarchate of ,deborah and ,barak #adjf #djif ,reign of ,dardanus and ,erectheus #achc #daac ,fourth ,servitude #acff #daai ,the ,sphere of ,chiron or ,musus #acfj #dabj ,critarchate of ,gideon #acei #dadf ,azan1 ,aphidas and ,elatus1 in ,arcadia #accc #dafj ,critarchate of ,abimelech #acai #dafc ,critarchate of ,tolah #acaf #daff ,descent of ,cadmus #acac #dahf ,critarchate of ,jair #abic #daif ,descent of ,pelops #abhc #dbjh ,fifth ,servitude #abga #dbah ,birth of ,hercules #abfa #dbbf ,critarchate of ,jephthah #abec #dbcb ,critarchate of ,ibzan #abdg #dbci ,critarchate of ,elon #abdj #dbdi ,critarchate of ,abdon #abcj #dbed ,argonautic ,expedition #abbe #dbeg ,sixth ,servitude #abbb #dbff ,first ,theban ,war #abac #dbib ,destruction of ,troy #aahd #dbig ,critarchate of ,eli #aahb #dcjc ,reign of ,orestes at ,argos #aagf #dccg ,seventh ,servitude #aadb #dcee olic ,migration #aabd #dceg ,critarchate of ,samuel #aabb #dcfi ,reign of ,saul #aaaj #dcge ,return of the ,heraclid #aajd #bbbg ,death of ,lamech #cbeb #dcgi ,birth of ,david #aajj #ddje ,reign of ,aletes at ,corinth #ajgd #ddji ,reign of ,david #ajgj #ddag ,capture of ,jerusalem #ajfb #ddce ,ionic ,migration #ajdd #dddi ,reign of ,solomon #ajcj #ddeb ,foundation of ,solomon's ,temple #ajbg ,,fifth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #ddei ,completion of ,solomon's ,temple #ajbj #ddfd ,foundation of ,smyrna #ajae #ddhi ,revolt of the ,ten ,tribes of ,israel #iij #ddhi ,reign of ,jeroboam and ,rehoboam #iij #ddib ,lapse of the ,twelve ,tribes into ,idolatry #ihg #ddid ,invasion of ,shishak #ihe #dejf ,reign of ,abijah #igc #deji ,reign of ,asa #igj #deaa ,reign of ,nadab #ifh #deab ,reign of ,baasha #ifg #deag ,acme of ,homer #ifb #debj ,asa defeats the ,ethiopians #iei #dece ,reign of ,ela #idd #decf ,reigns of ,zimri and ,omri #idc #decg ,acme of ,hesiod #idb #dedj ,foundation of ,samaria #ici #dedf ,reign of ,ahab #icc #deej ,reign of ,jehoshaphat #ibi #deec ,jehoshaphat appoints ,judges #ibf #deee ,mission of ,elijah #ibd #deeh ,destruction of the ,prophets of ,baal #iba #defh ,reign of ,ahaziah #iaa #defi ,translation of ,elijah #iaj #defi ,mission of ,elisha #iaj #degj ,reign of ,joram #iji #dege ,reign of ,jehoram #ijd #deha ,reign of ,ahaziah #hih #dehb ,reigns of ,athaliah and ,jehu #hig #dehh ,reign of ,jehoash #hia #deie ,olympiad of ,iphitus #hhd #dfjd ,mission of ,jonah #hge #dfaj ,reign of ,jehoahaz #hfi #dfbg ,death of ,elisha #heb #dfbg ,reign of ,joash #heb #dfbh ,reign of ,amaziah #hea #dfcc ,reign of ,jeroboam ,,ii4 #hcf #dfeg ,interregnum in ,judah #hbb #dffi ,reign of ,uzziah #haj #dfhd ,interregnum in ,israel #gie #dfhd ,missions of ,hosea and ,amos #gie #dgjc ,era of the ,olympiads #ggf #dgjf ,reigns of ,zechariah and ,shallum #ggc #dgjh ,invasion of ,pul #gga #dgah ,reign of ,pekahiah #gfa #dgai ,mission of ,isaiah #gfj #dgbj ,reign of ,pekah #gei #dgba ,reign of ,jotham #geh #dgbf ,foundation of ,rome #gec #dgbi ,mission of ,micah #gej #dgcb ,era of ,nabonassar #gdg #dgcg ,reign of ,ahaz #gdb #dgci ,captivity of the ,transjordanic ,tribes #gdj #dgdj ,interregnum in ,israel #gci #dgde ,foundation of ,syracuse #gcd #dgej ,reign of ,hoshea #gbi #dgeb ,mission of ,nahum #gbg #dgec ,reign of ,hezekiah #gbf #dgeh ,captivity of the ,ten ,tribes #gba #dgff ,invasion of ,sennacherib #gac #dgfg ,destruction of the ,assyrian ,army #gab #dgfh ,revolt of the ,medes #gaa #dghb ,reign of ,manasseh #fig #dgib ,foundation of the ,median ,empire #fhg #dgif ,creon ,first ,annual ,archon at ,athens #fhc #dhjb ,captivity of ,manasseh #fgg #dhjb ,second ,jubilee of ,jubilees from ,creation #fgg #dhjb ,captivity of the ,remnant of ,israel #fgg #dhbb ,foundation of ,byzantium #feg #dhcg ,reign of ,amon #fdb #dhci ,reign of ,josiah #fdj #dhdj ,birth of ,thales #fci #dhej ,josiah reforms the ,land #fbi #dhea ,mission of ,jeremiah #fbh #dhef ,the ,book of the ,law found #fbc #dhef ,mission of ,zephaniah #fbc #dheh ,legislation of ,draco #fba #dhei ,missions of ,joel and ,habakkuk #fbj #dhfc ,reign of ,pharaoh ,necho #faf #dhfg ,destruction of ,nineveh #fab #dhfh ,the acme of ,sappho #faa #dhfi ,reign of ,jehoahaz #faj #dhfi ,birth of ,anaximander #faj #dhgj ,reign of ,jehoiakim #fji #dhgc ,reign of ,nebuchadnezzar #fjf #dhgc ,era of the ,babylonish ,captivity #fjf #dhgd ,first ,vision of ,nebuchadnezzar #fje #dhgf ,rebellion of ,jehoiakim #fjc #dhgf ,epoch of the ,eclipse of ,thales #fjc #dhhj ,reign of ,jehoiachin #eii #dhha #ast year of ,jehoiachin's ,captivity #eih #dhha ,reign of ,zedekiah #eih #dhhd ,birth of ,crsus #eie #dhhe ,mission of ,ezekiel #eid #dhhe ,legislation of ,solon #eid #dhhi ,siege of ,jerusalem #eij #dhia ,destruction of ,solomon's ,temple #ehh ,,sixth ,,age ,,of ,,the ,,world4 #dhia ,the ,,babylonian or ,,assyrian ,,empire #ehh #dhic ,celebration of the ,pythian games #ehf #dhic ,era of the ,seven ,sages of ,greece #ehf #dijg ,acme of ,esop #egb #diah ,reign of ,evil ,merodach #efa #dicg ,release of ,jehoiachin #efb #dibj ,reign of ,neriglissar #eei #dibj ,reign of ,cyrus in ,persia #eei #dibd ,reign of ,nabonadius or ,belshazzar #eee #dibd ,the ,first ,vision of ,daniel #eee #dibd ,the ,second ,vision of ,daniel #eeg #dica ,anaximenes flourished #edh #dica ,cyrus takes ,sardis #edh #dici ,pythagoras flourished #edj #dida ,cyrus takes ,babylon #ech #dida ,xenophanes flourished #ech #dida ,reign of ,darius the ,mede #ech #dida ,the ,third ,vision of ,daniel #ech #didc ,,medo-,,persian ,,empire #ecf #didc #ast year of ,cyrus the ,persian #ecf #didc ,commission of ,zerubbabel and ,joshua #ecf #didd ,foundation of the ,second ,temple #ece #dide ,the ,fourth ,vision of ,daniel #ecd #didh ,anacreon flourished #eca #diej ,reign of ,cambyses or ,ahasuerus #ebi #died ,cambyses conquers ,egypt #ebe #died ,birth of schylus #ebe #dieg ,usurpation of the ,persian ,throne #ebb #dieh ,reign of ,darius ,hystaspes #eba #diei ,missions of ,haggai and ,zechariah #ebj #diei ,the ,second ,temple re-founded #ebj #difa ,birth of ,pindar #eah #difc ,the ,destruction of ,babylon #eaf #difc ,the ,second ,temple completed #eaf #digj ,the ,roman ,regifugium #eji #diga ,expulsion of the ,pisistratid #eaj #digi ,birth of ,anaxagoras #ejh #dihd ,birth of ,sophocles #die #dihi ,the ,battle of ,marathon #dij #diid ,reign of ,xerxes the ,great #dhe #diie ,birth of ,herodotus #dhd #diif ,ostracism of ,aristides #dhc #diii ,battle of ,salamis #dhj #diii ,birth of ,euripides #dhj #ejjh ,birth of ,thucydides #dga #ejaa ,birth of ,socrates #dfh #ejae ,reign of ,artaxerxes ,longimanus #dfd #ejae ,zeno flourished #dfd #ejai ,births of ,democritus and ,hippocrates #dfj #ejba ,the ,commission of ,ezra #deh #ejba ,the #ast ,week of ,daniel begins #deh #ejbd ,empedocles flourished #dee #ejbh ,the ,roman ,decemviri #dea #ejcj ,restoration of the ,consuls #ddi #ejcd ,the ,commission of ,nehemiah #dde #ejce ,military ,tribunes at ,rome #ddd #ejdf ,nehemiah returns to ,artaxerxes #dcc #ejdg ,meton flourished #dcb #ejdh ,the ,peloponnessian ,war #dca #ejdi ,mission of ,malachi #dcj #ejej ,birth of ,plato #dbi #ejea ,aristophanes flourished #dbh #ejee ,close of the ,old ,testament ,canon #dbd #ejef ,reign of ,darius ,nothus #dbc #ejgj ,the #gth ,week of ,daniel ends #dji #ejge ,reign of ,artaxerxes ,mnemon #djd #ejge ,lysander takes ,athens #djd #ejgh ,the ,anabasis of ,xenophon #dja #ejha ,ctesias flourished #cih #ejhi ,rome burnt by the ,gauls #cij #ejie ,birth of ,aristotle #chd #eajh ,battle of ,leuctra #cga #eaaa ,eudoxus flourished #cfh #eaac ,consuls restored at ,rome #cff #eaai ,the #adth ,week of ,daniel ends #cfj #eabj ,the accession of ,philip #cei #eaba ,reign of ,ochus #ceh #eabc ,birth of ,alexander the ,great #cef #each ,birth of ,epicurus #cda #eaci ,demosthenes flourished #cdj #eada ,battle of ,chronea #cch #eadb ,reign of ,arses #ccg #eadc ,reign of ,alexander in ,macedon #ccf #eadd ,reign of ,darius ,codomannus #cce #eade ,alexander crosses the ,hellespont #ccd #eadg ,tyre taken by ,alexander #ccb #eadg ,alexandria founded #ccb #eadh ,battle of ,arbela #cca #eaej ,,macedo-,,grecian ,,empire #cbi #eaef ,death of ,alexander #cbc #eaei ,ptolemy takes ,jerusalem #cbj #eafh ,the #bast ,week of ,daniel ends #caa #eafg ,era of the ,seleucid or ,contracts #cab #eagd ,reign of ,ptolemy ,lagus #cje #eahj ,arcesilaus flourished #bii #eaid ,reign of ,ptolemy ,philadelphus #bhe #eaii ,reign of ,antiochus ,soter #bhj #ebjj ,irruption of the ,gauls into ,greece #bgi #ebjb ,epoch of the ,septuagint ,version #bgg #ebae ,first ,punic ,war #bfd #ebag ,the #bhth ,week of ,daniel ends #bfb #ebah ,reign of ,antiochus ,theus #bfa #ebcb ,reign of ,ptolemy ,evergetes #bdg #ebcc ,reign of ,seleucus ,callinicius #bdf #ebch ,sicily ceded to ,rome #bda #ebed ,reign of ,seleucus ,ceraunus #bbe #ebef ,reign of ,antiochus the ,great #bbc #ebeg ,reign of ,ptolemy ,philopator #bbb #ebfa ,second ,punic ,war #bah #ebfc ,battle of ,cann #baf #ebff ,the #ceth ,week of ,daniel ends #bac #ebgd ,reign of ,ptolemy ,epiphanes #bje #ebhi ,the ,romans cross the ,hellespont #aij #ebib ,reign of ,seleucus ,philopator #ahg #ebih ,reign of ,ptolemy ,philometor #aha #ecjd ,reign of ,antiochus ,epiphanes #age #ecjd ,antiochus persecutes the ,jews #aj years #age #ecjd ,end of the ,jewish ,hierarchy #age #ecji ,antiochus sacks ,jerusalem #agj #ecaa ,macedon subdued by the ,romans #afh #ecab ,martyrdom of the ,maccabees #afg #ecac ,the ,asamonean ,dynasty #aff #ecac ,reign of ,judas ,maccabeus #aff #ecae ,reign of ,antiochus ,eupator #afd #ecae ,the #db;d ,week of ,daniel ends #afd #ecag ,reign of ,demetrius ,soter #afb #ecah ,the ,jews allied with the ,romans #afa #ecbi ,reign of ,alexander ,balas #aej #eccj ,third ,punic ,war #adi #eccc ,reign of ,demetrius ,nicator #adf #eccc ,reign of ,ptolemy ,physcon #adf #eccc ,destruction of ,carthage #adf #eccf ,reign of ,antiochus ,,vi4 ,epiphanes #adc #eccg ,reign of ,trypho #adb #ecda ,reign of ,antiochus ,sidetes #ach #ecea #b;d ,reign of ,demetrius ,nicator #abh #eced ,reign of ,alexander ,zebina #abe #ecef ,reign of ,antiochus ,grypus #abc #ecfb ,reign of ,ptolemy ,soter #aag #ecfd ,the #dith ,week of ,daniel ends #aae #ecgd ,africa made a ,roman ,province #aje #echd ,reign of ,seleucus ,nicator #ie #echg ,reign of ,philip #ib #echi ,cicero flourished #ij #ecif ,reign of ,tigranes #hc #ecig ,sylla made ,perpetual ,dictator #hb #ecih ,reign of ,ptolemy ,auletes #ha #edaj ,birth of ,virgil #fi #edaj ,reign of ,antiochus ,asiaticus #fi #edac ,the #efth ,week of ,daniel ends #ff #edad ,birth of ,horace #fe #edad ,syria made a ,roman ,province #fe #edaf ,jerusalem taken by ,pompey #fc #edai ,first ,roman ,triumvirate #fj #edba ,birth of ,livy #eh #edba ,julius ,csar invades ,gaul #eh #edbe ,julius ,csar reduces ,britain #ed #edbh ,reign of ,cleopatra #ea #edca ,battle of ,pharsalia #dh #edcd ,the #eith ,week of ,daniel ends #de #edcd ,the ,julian ,era #de #edce ,death of ,julius ,csar #dd #edcf ,second ,roman ,triumvirate #dc #edcg ,the ,battle of ,philippi #db #edda ,the #fjth ,week of ,daniel ends #ch #edda ,the ,spanish ,era #ch #eddb ,reign of ,herod #cg #eddb ,end of the ,asamoneans #cg #eddh ,the #fast ,week of ,daniel ends #ca #eddh ,the ,battle of ,actium #ca #eddi ,egypt made a ,roman ,province #cc #eddi ,,the ,,roman ,,empire #cj #eddi ,reign of ,augustus ,csar #cj #edeb ,the ,augustan ,era #bg #edee ,the #fb;d ,week of ,daniel ends #bd #edee ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,janus ,,shut #bd #edfb ,the #fc;d ,week of ,daniel ends #ag #edfb ,the ,temple at ,jerusalem rebuilt by ,herod #ag #edgf ,the #feth ,week of ,daniel ends #c #edgf ,,birth ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ #c #edgh ,reign of ,archelaus #a ,a4,d4 #edgh ,,vulgar ,,era ,,of ,,christianity #a #edhf ,judea made a ,roman ,province #h #edib ,reign of ,tiberius ,cesar #ad #eejd ,the #fith ,week of ,daniel ends #bf #eeje ,pontius ,pilate procurator of ,judea #bg #eejf ,,baptism ,,of ,,christ #bh #eeaa ,the #gjth ,week of ,daniel ends #cc #eeaa ,,the ,,crucifixion ,,and ,,ascension #cc #eeaa ,,the ,,fifth ,,empire #cc ----- ,footnote #a3 #8 s 1 4--,theoph4 ad ,autol4 ,lib4 ,,iii4 p4 #bgc1 ,oxon4 #afhd4 ,footnote #b3 ,see his 8,syntagma de ,septuaginta10 p4 #ac1 ,lond4 #afee1 and his 8,chronologia ,sacra10 p4 #df1 ,oxon4 #affj4 ,in our subsequent citations1 these editions are followed2 the latter is denominated 8,opus ,posthumum hucusque 40 ,footnote #c3 ,this translation1 which is from the ,septuagint1 may be considered as too free by some2 but we conceive that it expresses the true meaning of the passage1 which is not conveyed in our common version2 for the earth abideth not for ever6 ,footnote #d3 ,the reader will find an explanation of ,mr4 ,cuninghame's argument in the second part of this ,dissertation4 ,footnote #e3 ,revelation xiii4 #ag4 ,footnote #f3 ,ibid4 xxii4 #ai4 ,footnote #g3 ,dr4 ,hales says1 8,the ,targum of ,jonathan ,ben ,uzziel1 of the highest authority among the ,jews1 thus paraphrases ,gen4 iv4 #be3 #8,and ,adam knew his wife when #acj years were completed after ,abel was killed4' ,and the same account is furnished by the ,bereshith ,rabba1 ,more ,nevochim1 ,midrash ,tanchuma1 ,solomon ,jarchi1 ,elias1 and others of their principal writers40--,see his 8,analysis of ,chronology10 vol4 i4 p4 #hj4 ,indeed1 the whole of the second article of the second section of his ,introduction1 is well worth perusal1 being full of very curious and interesting matter1 all tending powerfully to prove that the longer computation of the ,septuagint was the true and original computation of the ,hebrew text4 ,his comparison of the ,masorete and ,samaritan texts in regard to ,genesis xi4 #aj-cb1 is very valuable2 see p4 #hb4 ,footnote #h3 8,syntagma10 cap4 iv4 p4 #cd4 ,footnote #i3 ,we refer here to the date of the division of the earth as determined by ,mr4 ,cuninghame2 see the ,preface to his 8,synopsis of ,chronology10 pp4 #ah-bb1 and his 8,fulness of the ,times10 p4 #dd4 ,in these works1 he makes out that the division commenced in ,a4 ,m4 #cjha or ,b4 ,c4 #bcih2 that it continued during a jubilean period1 or forty-nine years2 and1 of course1 that it terminated in ,a4 ,m4 #cacj1 or ,b4 ,c4 #bcdi4 ,we confess that we do not see the necessity of allowing so long a period for the division of the earth2 and we think it more likely to have been finished than to have been begun at the former date4 ,footnote #aj3 ,this name is marked in this and the two following ,tables1 on account of its omission in the ,hebrew and ,samaritan texts4 ,footnote #aa3 ,usher's 8,chronologia ,sacra10 cap4 vi4 p4 #hg4 ,footnote #ab3 ,the citations from ,dr4 ,hales' work are referred to the #dto4 edition1 ,lond4 #ahjj-ahab4 ,footnote #ac3 ,collatio ,codicis ,cottoniani ,gen seos1 c4 ,lond4 #aggh1 p4 xiii4 ,footnote #ad3 8,analysis of ,chronology10 vol4 i4 p4 #hd4 ,footnote #ae3 8,chronologia ,sacra10 cap4 vii4 p4 #abj4 ,footnote #af3 ,it is remarkable that both ,hales and ,russell1 notwithstanding their acknowledged veneration for the ,holy ,scriptures1 have chosen to follow the testimony of ,josephus1 in regard to the extent of the first two ages of the world2 but 8their witness agrees not together20 for the former makes it #cccc years1 and the latter #cdjc years6 ,footnote #ag3 ,see the ,prefaces to the 8,synopsis of ,chronology20 the 8,chronology of ,israel20 the 8,hebrew and ,septuagint ,chronologies ,tried20 the 8,scientific ,chronology of the year #ahci10 and its ,supplement2 and the 8,season of the ,end40 ,footnote #ah3 8,history of the ,world10 pp4 #bbh1 #bgg4 ,footnote #ai3 ,the ,eulerian ratio here referred to1 is that the numbers of mankind are doubled every #ab years4 ,now1 in #ij years1 the doubling would occur about #g times1 which would occasion the original number to be increased #abh times2 because the #gth power of #b is #abh4 ,hence1 #ej1jjj multiplied by #abh1 gives #f1djj1jjj1 which is nearly #f millions4 ,if the calculation be performed with the greatest mathematical nicety1 the result will only be #f1edj1bef1 which is rather more than #f millions4 ,footnote #bj3 ,the pretensions of any nation to a remote antiquity could only arise from ignorance of the sacred records1 and of the true traditions of its ancestors1 or from a bold disbelief of both4 ,the ,jews cannot be charged with either of these1 their character being remarkably the reverse until ,christ came4 ,hence we cannot suppose that the ,seventy ,interpreters would wilfully shut their eyes to the glaring facts1 that the true age of the world was well known to their countrymen1 that many of them were then living in the hope of the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning the ,messiah1 and that they were then accustomed 8to calculate the times40 ,any attempt on their part1 therefore1 to increase that age by #aejj years1 would have been looked upon with abhorrence2 nor could they hope to escape detection and severe reprobation2 unless1 indeed1 we can suppose that they had assembled all the ,jews 8from every nation under heaven10 and made them privy to the transaction6 ,before the advent1 therefore1 such an alteration in the sacred text was impossible2 but after that event it was not only possible1 but actually took place1 not in the ,greek but in the ,hebrew1 the former being read all over the world1 but the latter being confined to the ,jewish synagogue4 ,footnote #ba3 ,chronologia ,sacra1 pp4 #afb and #aga4 ,footnote #bb3 ,although the extent of the third age is clearly established by the reference of ,paul to the period of #dcj years1 from the confirmation of the covenant to ,abraham to the promulgation of the law from ,mount ,sinai1 yet it will be satisfactory to observe1 that the passage cited from the book of ,exodus originally stood as follows3--8,and the sojourning of the children of ,israel1 which they and their fathers sojourned in the land of ,egypt and in the land of ,canaan1 was #dcj years4 ,and it came to pass1 after the #dcj years1 that all the host of the ,lord went out of the land of ,egypt by night20 see the ,septuagint1 ,alexandrine edition1 and the ,samaritan ,pentateuch1 ,exod4 xii4 #dj1 #da4 ,the words in ,italics in this passage are omitted in the ,hebrew text1 and the words 8even the self-same day10 are interpolated4 ,that this is an interpolation is quite evident1 for even in the ,hebrew1 in the very next verse1 we are twice told that 8,it is a night much to be observed unto the ,lord10 for this great deliverance4 ,thus1 by the testimony of three witnesses against one1 the true reading is established4 ,nevertheless1 ,archbishop ,usher calls the passage just cited from the ,septuagint a paraphrastic explanation of the words of ,moses2 and he says that the corresponding passage in the ,samaritan text is interpolated from the ,greek version6--8,chronologia ,sacra10 cap4 viii4 p4 #abg4 ,biblical critics and commentators1 in general1 now admit that these texts have preserved the true reading2 see the note on this passage1 by the editor of the ,religious ,tract ,society's ,commentary on the ,bible1 from ,henry and ,scott4 ,mr4 ,clinton also very properly defends the right interpretation of the passage2 for he says1 8some modern writers have very unreasonably doubted this portion of the ,hebrew chronology20 see 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i4 page #bii4 ,footnote #bc3 ,the following is the passage as written by ,origen1 in his commentary on the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john3-- 1 1 1 1 1 1 4442 which reads thus3--,it is written in the third book of ,kings1 so they prepared stones and timber for three years2 and in the fourth year1 in the second month1 of the reign of ,king ,solomon over ,israel1 the king commanded1 c4 #a ,kings v4 #ah2 and vi4 #a4 ,footnote #bd3 ,mr4 ,cuninghame's remarks on ,usher's system1 in his 8,synopsis of ,chronology10 pp4 #ah-bj1 are very appropriate4 ,we are forced to abridge them as follows3--8,i have in my former works1 shown that the learned prelate's ,chronology of this period is manufactured2 and in this conclusion ,i have the support of the most eminent writers1 including the names of ,hales1 ,kennicott1 ,dr4 ,russell1 ,mr4 ,clinton1 added to the whole of the ancient chronographers4 ,the latest attempt made to prop up or patch his system as a whole1 is that of the author of the ,chapter on ,chronology1 in the last edition of ,mr4 ,bickersteth's ,guide to the ,prophecies4 ,but while this learned chronographer thus sets his seal to the almost exact truth of ,usher's sum total of years1 he no less sets his seal to the fact that ,usher has filled up the period by a false chronology4 ,according to this learned writer1 it is therefore undeniable that ,usher's chronology of the period from the ,exodus to the first of ,solomon is1 as to its particulars1 manufactured and erroneous4 ,now it is quite a fair question to ,mr4 ,bickersteth and his friend1 to ask them by what arithmetical process they have found out that the scheme which they thus bear testimony to be false as to its particulars1 is yet true as to its sum total4 ,is it a newly discovered principle that many falsehoods make one truth8 ,as to the scheme of particulars substituted for that of ,usher in these tables1 it is like that of the learned prelate himself1 utterly opposed to the narrative and testimony of the book of ,judges4 ,there is one part of the scheme1 however1 which merits even more severe animadversion4 ,the author of the ,table makes the period in ,acts xiii4 #bj1 expire at the return of the ark from ,kirjathjearim4 ,are we then to conclude that he has clipped down ,st4 ,paul's #dej to #cej8 ,i can see no other mode of explaining his calculation40 ,footnote #be3 ,this is the ,hebrew title of the most famous ,jewish work on chronology1 and signifies 8,the ,great ,chronicle of the ,world40 ,dr4 ,hales says1 8,this was the first curtailed system of ,jewish chronology1 fabricated by ,rabbi ,josi1 under the auspices of ,rabbi ,akiba1 the abettor of the rebel-impostor ,barchochab1 ,a4,d4 #acj1 in the reign of ,adrian40--,see his 8,analysis10 p4 #ac4 ,footnote #bf3 8,i have endeavoured to shew10 says ,mr4 ,cuninghame1 in the former of the places cited1 8that the periods of #cij and #dj mystic days1 during which ,ezekiel was commanded to lie on his sides1 bearing the iniquity of ,judah and ,israel1 are a period of #dcj years1 computed from the finishing of the ,temple1 ,b4,c4 #ajbj1 to the beginning of the siege of ,jerusalem1 ,b4,c4 #eij4 ,but it now appears to me that the #dcj years may with equal probability be computed from the first ,passover in the ,temple4 ,the dedication was in the month ,tisri of ,b4,c4 #ajai1 which is exactly #ia jubilees from the creation2 the first ,passover was therefore in ,nisan ,b4,c4 #ajah1 whence to the taking of the city in ,ab ,b4,c4 #ehh1 are #dcj years and three months2 and computing back from ,b4,c4 #ehh1 the second period of #dj years1 it brings us to ,b4,c4 #fbh1 the #acth of ,josiah1 and the very year1 according to ,prideaux1 of the commission of ,jeremiah4 99 99 99 ,whether1 therefore1 we compute the period of #dcj years from the finishing of the ,temple ,b4,c4 #ajbj1 to the beginning of the siege ,b4,c4 #eij1 or as above1 from the first ,passover to the taking of the city1 it comes out with equal exactness40 ,footnote #bg3 ,see a full account of this ,canon1 in ,dr4 ,hales' 8,analysis10 vol4 i4 pp4 #bge-bhh2 and a short account of it1 in the 8,breviarium ,chronologicum0 of ,strauchius1 translated by ,sault1 pp4 #bfb-bfd1 #crd edition1 ,lond4 #agde4 ,footnote #bh3 ,see his 8,chart of ,sacred ,chronology40 ,footnote #bi3 ,see his 8,apology1 c410 translated by the ,rev4 ,t4 ,chevallier1 ,b4,d41 p4 #bba1 ,cambridge1 #ahcc4 ,footnote #cj3 ,mr4 ,cuninghame says that 8,mr4 ,gresswell produces a mass of quotations from the ,fathers1 scarcely two of whom entirely agree1 to prove that they nearly all held that our ,lord's death was in one of the years #bi or #cj1 ,a4 ,m4 #eejg or #eejh1 or some of them in #ca1 ,a4 ,m4 #eeji2 yet with respect to some of his witnesses1 he is obliged to exclaim1 #8,so little solicitous do these writers seem to be about verifying their dates1 before they allowed them to remain on record4' ,if he were to give us #ajj volumes of such passages to wade through1 which is merely wading through a mass of contradictions1 they can avail nothing against the unequivocal testimony of ,st4 ,luke1 that in the #aeth of ,tiberius our ,lord was #cj years of age1 and was therefore born in ,b4 ,c4 #c1 ,a4 ,m4 #edgf2 and the other fact1 founded on the unerring principles of ,astronomy1 that from the year #bh to #cc1 ,a4 ,m4 #eejf to #eeaa1 no ,passover could possibly have fallen on a ,friday2 and1 therefore1 the death of our ,lord is pinned down to ,a4 ,d4 #cc1 ,a4 ,m4 #eeaa40 8,season of the ,end10 p4 #he4 ,footnote #ca3 ,jerome even went further than this1 and adopted the curtailed system of the ,jews in some of his writings1 if not in all4 ,footnote #cb3 ,the ,birth of ,christ took place according to ,the ,septuagint4 ,in the #edgfth year from ,creation2 the #cbaeth from the ,deluge2 the #badc;d from the birth of ,abraham2 the #afcgth from the ,exodus2 and the #ajfhth from the accession of ,david2 the #feth prophetic week of ,daniel2 the #aic;d ,olympiad2 the #geast year of ,rome2 and the #db;d of ,augustus4 ,the ,hebrew ,text4 ,in the #djjjth year from the ,creation2 the #bcddth from the ,deluge2 the #aiib;d from the birth of ,abraham2 the #adhgth from the ,exodus2 and the #ajeast from the accession of ,david2 the #feth prophetic week of ,daniel2 the #aic;d ,olympiad2 the #gdith year of ,rome2 and the #djth of ,augustus4 ,footnote #cc3 ,rabbi ,salomon ,jarchi1 qui nous a donn l'explication de cette tradition1 dit que les deux mille ans de ,tohu1 ou d',inanit1 ont dur depuis la cration du monde jusque vers la cinquante ou soixantime anne d',abraham1 et que les deux milles ans de ,loi ont commenc vers ce tems-la1 lorsque ,dieu le fit sortir de ,chalde1 et lui donna des lois pour lui et pour toute sa posterit1 principalement celle de la circoncision2 et qu'ils ont fini vers la destruction de ,jrusalem par ,titus4 ,il ajoute enfin ces paroles3 ,mais nos pchs sont la cause que le ,messie n'est point venu au bout des quatre mille ans4 p4 #aebg4 ,footnote #cd3 ,the rules for the determination of the approximating ratios of any two numbers by the method of ,continued ,fractions1 are very clearly explained1 on ,algebraical principles in ,hind's ,algebra1 #eth edition1 pp4 #bgc-bib2 and1 on ,arithmetical principles in ,thomson's ,arithmetic1 #afth edition1 pp4 #bda-bdf4 ,we subjoin the operation1 as much abridged as possible1 by which the preceding series of fractions was obtained4 ,reducing the above lengths of the year and the month into seconds1 we have the numbers #caeefibig and #beeaddbhg2 hence1 #b #beeaddbhg #caeefibigj #ab #ahgibcjeb #cjfagcaddd ------------------ ------------------ #b #fgbbabce #icifaebf #a #ecdhjehb #fgbbabce ------------------ ------------------ #a #acgdjfec #bfgdjbia #a #abiiifch #acgdjfec ------------------ ------------------ #a #gdajae #abiiifch #ag #djbchc #abeigbee ------------------ ------------------ #cchfcb #djbchc #a c4 ,quotients1 #ab1 #b1 #a1 #b1 #a1 #a1 #ag1 #a1 #a1 c4 ,ratios1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 c4 ,unmathematical readers will find a much more simple1 but of course1 a more lengthened explanation1 of these ratios in ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,synopsis of ,chronology10 pp4 #f-aj1 and #ed-fj4 ,footnote #ce3 ,we have much satisfaction in giving the following abridgement of the remarks of ,mr4 ,birks1 on this interesting subject2 pp4 #cga1 #cgb4 ,thus1 he says1 8,a fresh light is thrown upon the words of the ,psalmist1 ,he appointed the moon for seasons4 ,a divine ladder of time is set before us1 and1 as we rise successively from step to step1 days are replaced by years1 and years by millenia2 and these1 perhaps1 hereafter1 in their turn1 by some higher unit1 from which the soul of man may measure out cycles still more vast1 and obtain a wider view of the immeasurable grandeur of eternity4 ,human science has strained its utmost efforts in calculating the actual motions of the ,moon and the ,earth2 but the determining causes which fixed at first the proportion of their monthly and yearly revolutions have altogether eluded its research4 ,yet these elements of the natural universe are linked in1 by these sacred times and celestial cycles1 with the deepest wonders of ,providence1 and the whole range of ,divine prophecy4 ,how glorious1 then1 must be the inner shrine1 lit up with the ,shechinah of the ,divine ,presence1 when the approaches themselves reveal such a secret and hidden wisdom60 ,footnote #cf3 ,see his work 8,on the ,jubilean ,chronology of the ,seventh ,trumpet of the ,apocalypse10 pp4 #a-c1 and #ai-bf4 ,footnote #cg3 ,dr4 ,hales1 in his 8,analysis10 vol4 ii4 p4 #aced1 gives the following explanation of the 8enigmatical number of the name of the second ,beast1 in its second stage1 after the image was made10 from ,fuardentius1 an early ,romish writer1 followed by ,walmsley4 ,the number #fff is the numeral amount of ,mahomet the ,false ,prophet's name1 written or 1 by the ,greek ,historians ,zonaras and ,cedrenus3-- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 #dj #a #gj #dj #e #cjj #aj #bjj #fff4 ,this is very curious1 and indicates the strong likeness between ,popery and ,islamism1 in some grand point1 namely1 the ,spirit of ,persecution66 ,john xiii4 #ce4 ,the following explanation of the number of the ,beast1 is taken from ,mr4 ,cuninghame's 8,supplement to the ,scientific ,chronology of the year #ahci10 pp4 #bh1 #bi4 8,in my ,dissertation on the ,seals1 ,i have adopted the usual ,protestant ,solution and application of this number1 as being found first by ,irenus in the name of ,,latinus1 the founder of the ,,latin ,,kingdom1 written with the epsilon1 1 according to the ancient ,greek orthography2 or1 if it be written without the 1 according to the later usage1 then we owe to ,mr4 ,clarke the important discovery1 that is found in the name of the ,,latin ,,kingdom1-- 4 #cj #h #b #a #a #cjj #cj #bjj #e #a #aj #aj #cjj #cj #ej #aj #e #gj #ej #aj #bjj #h #a -------- -------- -------- #fff #djg #bei ,now1 without in the least departing from this interpretation1 ,i remark1 that while it correctly ascertains the ,,person or ,,power to whom this number belongs1 namely1 ,,the ,,latin ,,empire1 ,,both ,,secular ,,and ,,spiritual2 yet it does not ,,count or ,,compute the number itself1 or discover to us its ,,root in arithmetic4 ,the expression1 ,let him that hath understanding ,,count1 801 the number of the ,beast1 cannot mean to find the number itself1 for this is given2 nor does it merely signify to find out the name which expresses that number2 but it also means that the root of the number must be found1 and the number computed from it2 and further1 it signifies1 ,i apprehend1 that we must apply the number to the chronology of the ,beast himself1 in connection with that of the ,world1 in which he exercises his dominion40 ,footnote #ch3 ,see ,note ,a4 p4 #acj4 ,footnote #ci3 ,this abstract of his arguments was communicated to the author by ,mr4 ,cuninghame4 ,footnote #dj3 ,see ,note ,b4 p4 #acb4 ,footnote #da3 ,in ,l',estrange's ,translation of ,josephus1 p4 #aj1 he says 8,god commanded ,eve to tread upon his the ,serpent's head1 both as the fountain of all our woes1 and as the part where he most easily receives a mortal wound40 ,reland says 8,quia interpres vetus hc reddit1 ut mulier ejus capiti plagas inferret1 c4 ,nulla apud ,josephum est mentio mulieris1 nec ullum hactenus codicem ,josephi conspectum memini1 in quo hoc loco mulier commemoratur40--,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 i4 page #h1 note c4 ,footnote #db3 ,for the accuracy of this number we have the testimony of ,josephus in two different places of his works1 which have escaped the alterations made in the text of his ,jewish ,antiquities1 by wicked and designing persons4 ,see the ,promium to that work1 paragraph 2 and the ,prologue to his first ,book against ,apion4 ,footnote #dc3 ,this eminent ,prophet was favoured with a vision of ,god's glory1 which1 though preceded by storm1 and earthquake1 and fire1 was accompanied with a still small voice4 ,this was the voice of love and mercy1 whose sweetest notes were heard at ,calvary without the gate2 for the ,septuagint says1 1 and the ,lord was there2 #a ,kings xix4 #ab4--,see the ,alexandrine edition4 ,footnote #dd3 ,a name of ,apollo1 or the ,sun2 hence1 perhaps1 1 a mountain1 because the morning sun first appears on the mountain-tops4 ,footnote #de3 ,this inversion1 or ,metathesis1 is not uncommon in ,hebrew1 see ,joshua xix4 #ej1 and xxiv4 #cj1 compared with ,judges ii4 #h1 #i1 where it occurs in this very word in composition4 ,footnote #df3 8,the construction of this sentence in the original1 indicates that ,baal and the ,sun are to be considered as one and the same2 for the copulative #8 ,vau1 is not put between them as it is between the remaining words2 thus1 and the ,moon1 and the ,planets 7or1 more literally1 and ,mazzaroth71 c40 ,the latter term1 which occurs also in ,job xxxviii4 #cb1 is understood by most critics1 to signify the ,twelve ,signs of the ,zodiac2 if this be its real meaning1 the doctrine of the ,celestial ,sphere must have had a very early origin1 and long anterior to the famous sphere of ,chiron or ,eudoxus4 ,footnote #dg3 8,religious ,history of ,man10 p4 #bdh1 second edition4 ,footnote #dh3 ,russell's 8,connection10 vol4 i4 p4 #dja4 ,footnote #di3 ,dr4 ,russell gives the following curious extract from the ,canon ,chronicus of ,sir ,john ,marsham3 8,plures in ,oriente ,joves est investigare1 ,grcis ,romanisque longe recentioribus1 nullus datur hc locus4 ,varro trecentos ,joves introducit3 ,nos originem qurimus1 non multitudinem4 ,sane omnis de ,jove theologia ex ,egypto derivata est2 nec ,jovis solum1 sed omnium etiam deorum numina inde petenda sunt40--,see his 8,connection10 pp4 #chi-djf4 ,footnote #ej3 ,the inversion and amalgamation of the letters and producing ,z4 ,footnote #ea3 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 444--,theoph4 ad ,autolycum1 p4 #aj41 ,oxon4 #afhd4 ,footnote #eb3 ,the celebrated historian of ,astronomy1 ,delambre1 following the opinions of ,sir ,william ,jones and ,mr4 ,bentley in the 8,asiatic ,researches10 sneers at the supposed antiquity of the ,hindoo ,astronomical ,tables contained in the ,surya ,siddhanta1 and ridicules ,bailly and ,playfair for maintaining such an opinion4 ,but ridicule is not a test of truth2 and after all1 his conclusion is only this1 that the question seems to be settled6 ,without insisting on the antiquity of the ,tables1 it may be urged on very satisfactory grounds1 that some of the observations to which they refer1 were real and not fictitious4 ,delambre has brought no proof of his own to shew that they must be fictitious1 but has merely copied the statements and arguments of ,mr4 ,bentley4 ,for these1 we refer to his work entitled1 8,a ,historical ,view of the ,hindu ,astronomy10 ,london1 #ahbe4 ,footnote #ec3 ,even the splendid creations of ,milton's genius1 in his 8,paradise ,lost0 have been often substituted for the truths of ,sacred ,inspiration4 ,footnote #ed3 3 ,isaiah ix4 #f2 ,see the ,alexandrine edition of the ,septuagint4 ,footnote #ee3 444 1 4 8 4 1 2 40 ' 1 4 1 4--,irenus contra omnes ,hreses2 pp4 #ddd1 #dde1 ,grabe's edition1 ,oxon4 #agjb4 ,footnote #ef3 ,hc ,ireni sententia de mundi permansione1 tot tantosque habet vindices et confirmatores1 ac plausibiles persuasiones1 modo divin potestati nihil temer prscribatur1 ut in eam lubens descenderem4 ,prim enim ,ethnicorum omnium clarissimos et antiquissimos scriptores1 ,hydaspen ,medorum ,regem2 ,mercurium ,trismegistum1 ac ,sybillas hoc prcinuisse et firmasse1 testis ,lactantius1 lib4 vii4 cap4 #ad1 #ae et #ah4 ,hebros idem sequi1 testimonio est oraculum1 quod ,heli nomine circumferunt ,thalmudist1 libro ,sanhedrin1 capite ,helec3 et lib4 ,havoda ,zara1 cap4 liphne-edehen3 cujus verba recitantur1 nec refelluntur1 a doctis et ,catholicis ,authoribus1 ,galatino libro iv4 cap4 #bj41 ,pico ,mirandulano lib4 vii41 ,heptapli cap4 #d4 et ,francisco ,veneto lib4 de ,harmonia ,mundi ,cant4 iii4 ,tono #g1 cap4 #g4 ,oraculum hoc declarant1 ac conjecturis multis et non spernendis confirmant insignes ,rabbini ,selomo et ,isaac4 ,ex ,latinis ,ecclesiasticis ,patribus1 sententiam hanc amplectuntur et tuentur ,lactantius lib4 vii4 cap4 #ad41 ,hilarius in cap4 #ag4 ,matth41 ,hieronymous ,epist4 ad ,cyprianum1 et ,comment in cap4 iv4 ,miche1 ,gaudentius ,brixianus ,tract4 x4 de ,lectione ,evangelica4 ,refert eandem et ,augustinus lib4 xx ,civitat4 ,dei cap4 #g1 ut verisimilem1 licet alibi illam impugnaverit4 ,glossa etiam1 qu ,ordinaria vocatur constanter affirmat1 in #e cap4 ,genes4 ,inter ,grcos vero placuit hc opinio ,justino ,martyri1 seu cuivis alteri ,authori ,qustionum ad ,orthod4 ,qust4 #ga4 ,sex istis millibus quingentos annos addere visum est ,hippolyto1 ,cyrillo1 et ,chrysostomo1 ut author est ,germanus ,constantinopolitanus libro de theoria rerum ,eccles4 ,perspectum mihi1 est hanc sententiam oppugnari ab ,augustino ,comment1 in ,psal4 #f et #hi4 atque ,epist4 #hi4 insuper ,beda in ,psal4 #hi4 an vero illam expugnent1 viderint docti et acuti eorum ,lectores4 ,hc autem ni fallor1 aliquod emolumentum adferent ad eorum reprimendos clamores1 qui temere nullaque ratione ,b4 ,martyri hac de re vehementius insultant1 et lapsos1 quos putant1 ,patrum aliquanto contumeliosis insectantur4 ,feuardentius4--,grabe's ,irenus1 pp4 #ddd1 #dde4 ,footnote #eg3 4--,philebos1 p4 #aeg41 cited by ,dr4 ,russell1 p4 #gg of his 8,connection40 ,footnote #eh3 ,augustine de ,civit4 ,dei1 lib4 xv4 c4 #aa-ac2 cited by ,russell1 p4 #ha of his 8,connection40 ,footnote #ei3 ,russell's 8,connection0 pp4 #hj-hd4 ,footnote #fj3 1 1 1 1 ' 4--,eusebius1 cited by ,syncellus1 p4 #hi1 ,bonn1 #ahbi4 ,footnote #fa3 ,we refer to ,robinson's edition of ,hesiod's works1 qu supersunt1 cum notis ,variorum1 ,oxon4 #agcg4 ,footnote #fb3 8,connection10 vol4 ii4 p4 #dfe4 ,footnote #fc3 ,genesis xlix4 #aa1 #ab1 #be1 #bf4 ,the above passages are improved a little by reference to the ,septuagint1 of which see a ,translation according to the ,vatican edition1 just published by ,bagster and ,sons1 from the pen of ,sir ,l4 ,c4 ,l4 ,brenton1 ,bart4 ,footnote #fd3 ,the character of the present age1 which is remarkable for vulgar ,infidelity1 and the entire worship of ,mammon1 especially in the metropolis1 has made many of the people of ,god sigh and cry for the abominations of the land1 and fear that the ,apocalyptic vials of wrath are about to be poured out upon this devoted country2 for to whom much is given1 of them much will be required4 ,the crying sin1 in our estimation1 is that which makes a gain of godliness1 and which puts men into the priest's office for a piece of bread2 for by this craft they have their 1 wealth1 ,acts xix4 #be2 or1 as it might be rendered1 respectability4 ,this age indeed makes vast pretensions to respectability1 but it is only that which arises from wealth4 ,now it is very remarkable that the letters of the ,greek word 1 which was used by the craftsmen who made silver shrines for ,diana1 when they complained of the spread of the ,gospel1 and set ,ephesus in an uproar for two hours1 added up according to their value in the ,greek system of notation1 make the sum of #fff1 the well-known number of the ,beast6 ,thus3-- #e #djj #hj #gj #ajj #aj #a #fff4 ,what does this indicate1 but that the beast reigns triumphant in the present age2 for the whole world has gone a wondering after him1 and the image which he has set up8 ,and what is this image but wealth or respectability1 which all are so anxious to acquire and maintain8 ,let ,christians beware of falling into this snare1 and let them attend to the warning voice of the beloved ,apostle2 ,rev4 xviii4 #d4 ,for the discovery of the above singular numerical coincidence1 we are indebted1 through the publisher1 ,mr4 ,bagster1 to the author of a work just published1 entitled 8,,wealth1 ,the ,name and ,number of the ,beast1 c40 ,footnote #fe3 ,the similarity of this description to that of ,hesiod1 is in some points1 even more marked in the ,septuagint4 ,footnote #ff3 which is the same as #8 signifies literally the beginning or summit of wisdom1 and consequently the highest wisdom4 ,footnote #fg3 ,here ,virgil1 by a ,poetic licence1 melts the ,iron age and the ,cuman age into one4 ,this was natural for him to do1 as a ,roman2 for no doubt he was aware that the ascendancy of the ,roman ,power had been predicted in ancient prophecy under the figure of ,iron ,rule3 and he might hope that the ,fifth ,monarchy would spring from the same source4 ,footnote #fh3 ,this learned and illustrious poet1 who had no doubt1 borrowed his 8prisc vestigia fraudis0#fi from the #b;d ,chapter of ,genesis1 might have also anticipated the gross wickedness which should continue to prevail1 notwithstanding the advent of the ,divine ,instructor1 until death should put an end to mortal strife1 and the spirits of the just be made perfect4 ,it is lamentable in the present ,age of ,respectability1 to behold so many of these vestigia as the newspapers exhibit1 those daily records of crime and debauchery1 murder and suicide2 to read the reports of the police1 inquest1 and law courts1 one would scarcely believe that he lived in a ,christian country1 but rather that he dwelt in the midst of ,pagan ,rome4 ,it is our deliberate opinion that the publication of such reports is injurious to the morals of the country1 and that an immediate stop should be put to it by legislative enactment4 ,the reading of newspapers is now so universal1 and the taste for ,the ,horrible so rabid1 especially among the lower orders1 that we are fully persuaded that the perusal of the reports of trial for crime1 under the temptation of the ,devil1 and the pressure of similar circumstances1 too frequently leads to its commission4 ,it would serve all the good purposes that can possibly be gained by publicity1 merely to record the names and crimes of the offenders1 without entering into all the shocking details1 so disgusting to the truly humane and ,christian portion of the community4 ,footnote #fi3 8,traces of ,man's early sin40 ,footnote #gj3 ,the works of these authors to which we shall chiefly refer1 are1 the 8,jewish ,antiquities0 of ,josephus1 the treatise 8,to ,autolycus0 of ,theophilus1 the remains of the 8,chronicon0 of ,africanus1 the mutilated 8,chronicon0 of ,eusebius1 and the 8,chronicon ,paschale40 ,footnote #ga3 ,see ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 i4 pp4 #ac1 #ad2 note a4 ,footnote #gb3 ,lib4 iii4 ad ,antolycum1 p4 #bfb1 ,oxon4 #afhd4 ,footnote #gc3 ,see ,routh's ,reliqui ,sacr1 vol4 ii4 pp4 #abf1 #abi4 ,footnote #gd3 ,ibid1 pp4 #bdb1 #bdc1 #bdh1 #bej4 ,footnote #ge3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 i4 p4 #bf4 ,footnote #gf3 ,see ,hudson's ,josephus1 pp4 #bf1 #bg4 ,footnote #gg3 ,lib4 iii4 ad ,autolycum1 p4 #bfb4 ,footnote #gh3 ,routh's ,reliqui ,sacr1 vol4 ii4 p4 #acj4 ,footnote #gi3 ,on this point1 see the 8,cours ,complet de ,theologie10 tom4 iii4 p4 #aech2 and 8,chronicon ,paschale10 p4 #cdj1 ,venet4 #agbi4 ,footnote #hj3 ,routh's ,reliqui ,sacr1 vol4 ii4 p4 #aca4 ,footnote #ha3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 i4 p4 #aaa4 ,footnote #hb3 ,lib4 iii4 ad ,autolycum1 p4 #bfb4 ,footnote #hc3 ,lib4 iii4 ad ,autolycum1 p4 #bfe4 ,footnote #hd3 ,routh's ,reliq4 ,sacr4 vol4 ii4 p4 #aee4 ,footnote #he3 ,ibid1 p4 #acf4 ,footnote #hf3 1 1 4 ,routh's ,reliq4 ,sacr4 vol4 ii4 p4 #acb4 ,footnote #hg3 ,the #bj years taken from the former period1 and the #bj years of the servitude omitted1 being both added to the short period1 will make it exactly #gb years4 ,footnote #hh3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 i4 p4 #igi4 ,footnote #hi3 ,ibid1 p4 #cbb4 ,footnote #ij3 ,russell's 8,connection10 vol4 i4 p4 #adg4 ,footnote #ia3 ,sulpicius ,severus in ,hist4 ,sacr4 i4 #dd1 #c2 cited by ,clinton4 ,footnote #ib3 ,see ,russell's 8,connection10 p4 #abh2 where he gives a very erroneous view of the critarchate of ,samuel and the reign of ,saul4 ,he is also mistaken as to the critarchate of ,samson4 ,footnote #ic3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 ii4 p4 #dgj4 ,footnote #id3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 p4 #cga4 ,footnote #ie3 ,ibid1 p4 #dbb4 ,footnote #if3 ,ibid1 p4 #ejf4 ,footnote #ig3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 p4 #ebh4 ,footnote #ih3 ,probably intended for ,shamgar2 see ,lib4 iii4 ad ,autolycum1 p4 #bff4 ,footnote #ii3 ,clinton's 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i4 p4 #cjf1 note d4 ,footnote #ajj3 ,lib4 iii4 ad ,autolycum1 p4 #bff4 ,footnote #aja3 ,routh's ,reliq4 ,sacr4 vol4 ii4 pp4 #afj1 #afa4 ,footnote #ajb3 ,clinton's 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i4 p4 #cjh1 note q4 ,footnote #ajc3 ,routh's ,reliq4 ,sacr4 vol4 ii4 pp4 #afg1 #afi4 ,footnote #ajd3 ,russell's 8,connection10 pp4 #acj1 #aca2 and ,clinton's 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i4 pp4 #cjc--caj4 ,footnote #aje3 ,see the vol4 last cited1 p4 #caj1 note x4 ,footnote #ajf3 ,we have observed the correct number in the series of the ,judges prefixed to the ,armenian copy of the ,chronicon of ,eusebius4 ,footnote #ajg3 ,clinton's ,fast4 ,helle4 p4 #caj1 note z4 ,footnote #ajh3 ,ibid1 p4 #cjd4 ,footnote #aji3 ,ibid1 p4 #cje4 ,footnote #aaj3 ,ibid1 p4 #cje1 note z4 ,footnote #aaa3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 i4 p4 #ebh4 ,footnote #aab3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 i4 p4 #eah4 ,footnote #aac3 ,ibid1 p4 #eaf4 ,footnote #aad3 ,on this point1 see ,clinton's 8,fasti ,hellenici10 vol4 i4 p4 #caf2 where the author makes a wrong citation from the ,septuagint1 viz41 #d ,reg4 xiii4 #aj4 ,footnote #aae3 ,euseb4 ,chron4 ,canon4 ,book ,i4 #e1 #b1 ex ,haicano ,codice1 ,mediolan4 #ahah4 ,footnote #aaf3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 ii4 p4 #chg4 ,footnote #aag3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 ii4 p4 #deb4 ,footnote #aah3 ,ibid1 p4 #djj4 ,footnote #aai3 ,lib4 ,,iii4 ad ,autolycum1 p4 #bha4 ,footnote #abj3 ,lib4 ,,iii4 ad ,autolycum1 p4 #bfi4 ,footnote #aba3 ,routh's ,rel4 ,sac4 vol4 ii4 p4 #agd4 ,footnote #abb3 ,ven4 #adhc4 ,footnote #abc3 ,mediolan4 et ,ven41 #ahah4 ,footnote #abd3 ,ven4 #agbi4 ,footnote #abe3 ,see ,hales's 8,analysis10 vol4 i4 pp4 #bgf-bgh4 ,footnote #abf3 #b ,kings xxv4 #d4 ,footnote #abg3 ,luke iii4 #a1 #bc4 ,footnote #abh3 ,hudson's ,josephus1 vol4 i4 pp4 #edg-igi4 ,footnote #abi3 ,see ,dr4 ,hales's 8,analysis10 vol4 ii4 p4 #feb4 ,footnote #acj3 ,lib4 iii4 ad ,autolycum1 pp4 #bfh-bgg4 ,footnote #aca3 ,luke iii4 #a1 #bc2 and p4 #hi1 ,part ,i4 ,footnote #acb3 ,routh's ,rel4 ,sac4 pp4 #aha1 #ahf1 #ahg4 ,footnote #acc3 ,lib4 iii4 ad ,autolycum1 pp4 #bgf-bha4 ,footnote #acd3 ,routh's ,reliqui ,sacr1 vol4 ii4 pp4 #abi-aic4 ,footnote #ace3 ,see the ,hieronymian version of his 8,chronicon10 ,ven4 #adhc4 ,footnote #acf3 ,see 8,chronicon ,paschale10 p4 #agi1 ,ven4 #agbi4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,transcriber',s ,,notes ,page ,changed from ,changed to #ij 1 1 1 1 ,typos fixed2 non-standard spelling and dialect retained4 ,used numbers for footnotes1 placing them all at the end of the last chapter4 ,enclosed italics font in underscores4 ,enclosed blackletter font in equals4 ,the caret 77 serves as a superscript indicator1 applicable to individual characters 7like #b;d7 and even entire phrases 7like #ast74